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FLORIDA - Florida’s minimum wage will increase to $14 an hour on September 30th, continuing the state’s gradual implementation of a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2020.
This amendment, led by Orlando attorney John Morgan, will see the minimum wage reach $15 an hour by 2026.
The wage increase comes as part of a plan that began in September 2021, when the minimum wage was raised to $10 per hour.
Since then, the wage has increased by $1 each year, with the final target of $15 to be reached by 2026.
Once that goal is achieved, the wage will adjust annually based on inflation, allowing for continued increases that reflect cost-of-living changes.
Additionally, Florida law requires that the minimum wage for tipped workers rise accordingly.
Last year, the tipped wage was $9.98 per hour, and it will increase to $10.98 at the end of this month.
This ensures that both standard and tipped workers benefit from the annual increases.
Florida’s new $14 minimum wage will be significantly higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which has remained unchanged for years.
As the state moves closer to the $15 per hour goal, questions remain about the long-term effects of these increases on businesses and workers across the state.