A scheduled raise kicks in on September 30, 2025, giving low‑wage Floridians a $1‑an‑hour bump and setting up an even bigger increase next year.
Florida workers earning the minimum wage are about to see relief. Beginning September 30 — just weeks away — the statewide hourly floor climbs from $13 to $14, the fourth step in the voter‑approved plan launched in 2021. Roughly one million employees in hospitality, agriculture, retail, cleaning, and construction stand to gain, many of them immigrants seeking stability. Will the extra dollar make a noticeable dent in household budgets?
How the September 30, 2025 wage hike reshapes paychecks for minimum‑wage Floridians
The added dollar an hour equals about $40 more in a full‑time weekly paycheck, or roughly $2,080 a year before taxes. For families juggling rent and groceries, that’s real money. Still, some business groups worry about payroll costs; past increases, however, have not produced mass layoffs.
what the new $14 hourly floor changes for tipped service employees across the state? Florida’s amendment also adjusts the rate for staff who earn tips. Come September 30, servers, bartenders, and valets must receive at least $10.98 in base pay — up from $9.98 — before tips are counted. Employers must make up any shortfall if combined earnings fall below $14. Sound fair?
| Category | Current (2024) | 9/30/2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard minimum wage | $13.00 | $14.00 |
| Tipped employee base | $9.98 | $10.98 |
Timeline toward the 2026 fifteen‑dollar target and the automatic inflation indexing afterward
The $14 benchmark is the penultimate step. One year later — on September 30, 2026 — the minimum wage reaches $15 statewide. After that, annual indexing ties future raises to inflation, avoiding another long freeze like the federal rate’s 2009 stall.
Living wage estimates (MIT, February 2025)
• Single adult: $23.41/hr
• Adult + 1 child: $38.72/hr
• Adult + 2 children: $47.53/hr
• Adult + 3 children: $59.64/hr
What should workers do if the raise doesn’t appear?
Check your first October paycheck. If the bump is missing, file a wage complaint with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity or a legal‑aid clinic. Keep pay stubs and schedules — documentation is your best ally.
Florida’s incremental raises aim to balance household budgets with employer realities. Whether that balance holds will become clearer after September’s boost. For now, employees can count on a modest but welcome pay raise.