COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s minimum wage will increase at the start of the new year, rising to $11 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.50 per hour for tipped employees on January 1, 2026, according to state officials.
The adjustment represents a 2.8% increase from the current 2025 rates of $10.70 for non-tipped workers and $5.35 for tipped workers. The annual increase is required under a constitutional amendment approved by Ohio voters in November 2006, which mandates that the state’s minimum wage be adjusted each year based on inflation.
The wage increase is tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the 12-month period ending in August. The 2.8% rise reflects the change in the CPI-W from Sept. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2025.
In addition to the wage increase, the business applicability threshold will also change. Beginning January 1, 2026, Ohio’s minimum wage will apply to businesses with annual gross receipts exceeding $405,000, up from the current threshold of $394,000.
Employees working for businesses with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or less, as well as 14- and 15-year-old workers, will continue to earn the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Any increase to the federal minimum wage would require action by Congress and approval from the President.
“We encourage all employers to stay informed and compliant with the updated wage rates and posting requirements,” said Stephen Clegg, Wage & Hour Administration Bureau Chief. “The Department of Commerce offers resources to support employers in meeting those obligations.”
To remain in compliance, employers are required to display the official 2026 Ohio Minimum Wage poster, which is available for download through the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Industrial Compliance.
