Ohio’s minimum wage for 2026 is $11.00 an hour. It isn’t one number for everyone, though: which rate you’re owed depends on how much money your employer’s business brings in, and whether you earn tips.
At a glance
- Minimum wage, 2026
- $11.00 an hour [1]
- Tipped workers
- $5.50 an hour in cash wages, plus tips [2]
- Who must pay $11.00
- Employers with $405,000 or more in yearly gross receipts [1]
- Smaller employers
- Federal $7.25 an hour [1]
- Overtime
- 1.5 times your regular rate after 40 hours a week [1]
| Who | Hourly minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Employer with $405,000+ in gross receipts | $11.00 | The state rate |
| Tipped worker at that employer | $5.50 cash wage | Tips must bring pay to at least $11.00 |
| Employer under $405,000 | $7.25 | Same as the federal minimum |
The small-employer rule
Ohio’s rate is tied to the size of the business, measured by gross receipts . Employers with $405,000 or more a year must pay $11.00 an hour. Employers below that line can pay $7.25, the federal minimum [1].
If you aren’t sure which side of the line your employer is on, ask. A small shop with a few employees may be under it; a chain store or large restaurant almost certainly isn’t.
Tipped workers
Servers, bartenders and others who regularly earn tips can be paid a lower cash wage. At employers covered by the state rate, that’s $5.50 an hour, and the employer can count up to $5.50 an hour of tips (the tip credit ) toward the $11.00 minimum [2].
The catch for employers: your cash wage plus your tips have to add up to at least $11.00 for every hour you work. If a slow week leaves you short, your employer has to pay the difference [2]. The tipped rules apply to workers who get more than $30 a month in tips [2].
Overtime
For hours over 40 in a workweek, covered workers earn 1.5 times their regular rate [1]. That applies at both the state and federal minimums.
The rate changes every year
Ohio doesn’t freeze its minimum wage. The state adjusts it each year using a set formula, so check the current rate at the start of each year [1].
If you’re paid less than you’re owed
Start by talking with your employer and asking how your pay was figured; mistakes happen. If that doesn’t fix it, you can file a wage complaint with a government wage agency, or talk with an employment lawyer about your options. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (dol.gov) explains how its complaint process works.
Sources
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in Ohio in 2026?
$11.00 an hour at employers with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or more. Employers under that line can pay the federal minimum of $7.25.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Ohio?
$5.50 an hour in cash wages, at employers covered by the $11.00 rate. Tips have to bring the worker up to at least $11.00 an hour; if they don't, the employer makes up the difference.
Does every Ohio employer have to pay $11.00?
No. The state rate applies to employers with $405,000 or more in yearly gross receipts. Smaller employers can pay the federal $7.25.