Ohio tipped minimum wage in 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, Ohio's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour, and the cash wage for tipped employees is $5.50 an hour. Tips have to make up the other $5.50.
| Who | 2026 rate |
|---|---|
| Non-tipped employees | $11.00 |
| Tipped employees (cash wage) | $5.50 |
| Employers with gross receipts of $405,000 or less a year | $7.25 (federal) |
| Workers aged 14 and 15 | $7.25 (federal) |
Source: Ohio Department of Commerce, December 31, 2025. Last checked September 29, 2026. Ohio's rate changes every January 1 with inflation.
How the tip credit works
If you pay a tipped server $5.50 an hour, you're counting on tips to cover the rest of the $11.00. For every workweek, their cash wage plus tips has to average at least $11.00 an hour. If it doesn't, you owe the difference.
shortfall = hours × $11.00 − (hours × $5.50 + tips) if the shortfall is above $0, the employer pays itA worked example
A server works 30 hours and makes $140 in tips. Cash wages are 30 × $5.50 = $165. Wages plus tips are $305, but 30 × $11.00 = $330, so you owe $25 more that week.
What counts as a tipped employee
Under Ohio law a tipped employee is someone who customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. Servers and bartenders usually qualify; cooks and dishwashers usually don't, and must get the full $11.00.
Tools for this
- Labor cost percentage calculator: has Ohio's $5.50 and $11.00 as one-tap wages.
- Tip pool calculator and tip out calculator.
This page explains the published rates. It isn't legal advice; for a specific situation, check with the Ohio Department of Commerce, Bureau of Wage and Hour, or an employment lawyer.