2026 Ohio Minimum Wage
The 2026 Ohio Minimum Wage is $11.
Effective 2026-01-01Source: State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)Verified 2026-09-01
Who it applies to
Employers and employees in Ohio covered by the state minimum wage law. The Department of Labor's entry splits Ohio in two by annual gross receipts: employers at or above the level it names owe the $11.00 rate on this page, and employers under that level are given a lower rate the entry states separately, which this record does not verify or publish. Both parts of the entry carry a weekly premium pay threshold. The table does not display subminimum rates for minors, students or trainees.
What changed this year, and why
The U.S. Department of Labor's table of state minimum wage laws, updated July 1, 2026, lists Ohio's basic minimum rate as $11.00 per hour for employers whose annual gross receipts reach the level named in the entry. The same entry states that the minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a set formula, so the amount here is the one the table carried on that date. No earlier year of this record is published here, so this page states no year-over-year change.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Ohio in 2026?
- It is $11.00 per hour for employers whose annual gross receipts reach the level the Department of Labor's entry names. That is the basic minimum rate listed in its State Minimum Wage Laws table, in the version updated July 1, 2026. The Ohio entry also gives a second, lower basic minimum rate for employers under that level, and the figure published here is the first one.
- Does the Ohio minimum wage depend on the size of the employer?
- It depends on annual gross receipts rather than on headcount. The entry is written as two blocks, one for employers whose annual gross receipts reach the level it names and one for employers under that level, each with its own basic minimum rate and its own premium pay line. The receipts level that divides them is stated in the table and is not a figure this record verifies, so this page does not restate it.
- Do small employers in Ohio pay a lower minimum wage?
- The entry gives a second basic minimum rate for employers whose annual gross receipts fall under the level it names, and that rate is below the $11.00 on this page. This record verifies only the rate for the higher-receipts block, so the other one is described here rather than published. The Department of Labor's table is where both are stated side by side.
- Is the Ohio minimum wage adjusted every year?
- The entry states, in the table's own words, that the minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a set formula. It does not print the formula, name the index behind it, or give the date on which the recalculation takes effect, so this page does not either. What is published here is the rate the table carried in its version updated July 1, 2026.
- When does overtime pay start in Ohio?
- Both blocks of the Ohio entry carry a premium pay line measured by the week, and neither states a daily threshold. The table's footnote adds that the overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate unless otherwise specified. The hour count itself is a figure in the table rather than one this record verifies, so this page describes the threshold without restating it.
- Is there a separate tipped minimum wage in Ohio?
- The Department of Labor's state table gives basic minimum rates per hour for Ohio and no separate cash wage for tipped employees, so this page does not publish one. The same table says plainly that differential provisions are not displayed in it, naming subminimum rates for minors and students and training wages for new hires as its examples.
- Is Ohio's minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage?
- The rate on this page, $11.00 per hour, is above the amount the same Department of Labor table cites as the current federal minimum wage in its entries for the states that have no minimum wage law of their own. Ohio's entry carries no clause adopting the federal rate by reference or replacing the state rate when the federal one is higher, which several other states' entries do carry.
- Where does the Ohio figure on this page come from?
- From the Wage and Hour Division's State Minimum Wage Laws table at dol.gov, in the snapshot captured for this record, where the first block of the Ohio entry gives the basic minimum rate per hour as $11.00. The division notes on the same page that it tries to ensure the information there is accurate and that individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
Every amount on this page is a published figure rather than yours. The Minimum wage pay calculator takes the number you enter and works it out against them, showing which published figure it used.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Some states allow employers to pay certain workers less than the standard minimum wage. These special categories include minors, students, and new hires who may be paid a training wage during an initial employment period. Some states also exempt specific worker categories entirely from minimum wage coverage. The table on this page does not display these differential provisions, so employers and workers must check their state's specific rules to determine whether a subminimum rate applies. The federal hourly rate shown on this page still serves as the baseline, but state-level exceptions can reduce what certain workers actually receive. Always verify with state authorities before applying a subminimum wage to any employee.
Some states set subminimum rates for minors and/or students or exempt them from coverage or have a training wage for new hires.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
The $11 hourly minimum wage shown on this page represents state-level rates, but many cities and counties have enacted their own minimum wage laws that exceed the state rate. When a local government sets a higher minimum wage, employers in that locality must pay the higher rate. These local wage floors are not displayed in the table on this page, so workers and employers need to check whether their city or county has established a separate minimum wage that applies to them. Local minimum wages can vary significantly even within the same state, and they may have different rules about which employers are covered or what size business must comply. Always verify the requirements that apply in your specific location.
Some local governments set minimum wage rates higher than their respective state minimum wage. Such differential provisions are not displayed in this table.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, covered non-exempt employees must receive overtime pay for hours worked beyond the standard workweek. The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay. For workers earning the $11 hourly minimum wage, this means overtime hours must be paid at a higher rate than their regular wages. Some states have their own overtime rules that may require premium pay after a certain number of hours in a single day, not just in a workweek, and those rules can be more generous than federal law. The footnote on this page clarifies that the one-and-one-half multiplier is the standard overtime premium unless a specific state law says otherwise. Employers must follow whichever standard - federal or state - provides the greater benefit to the employee. Workers who believe they have not been properly compensated for overtime should contact the Wage and Hour Division or their state labor office.
The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
The Wage and Hour Division maintains this table of state minimum wage rates, but it is not the final authority on what you are owed. Because state laws change frequently and some states allow subminimum rates for certain workers or permit local governments to set higher minimum wages, the Division recommends that individuals consult the relevant state labor office for official, up-to-date information about the rate that applies in their jurisdiction. If you believe your employer is paying you less than the required minimum wage, you can file a complaint with your state labor office or contact the federal Wage and Hour Division. The Wage and Hour Division can be reached through their website or by telephone. State labor office contact information is available through the Department of Labor's directory of state labor offices. Keep records of your hours worked and wages paid to support any claim.
The Wage and Hour Division tries to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, but individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Ohio's minimum wage is not fixed permanently but adjusts each year to reflect changes in the cost of living. The state uses a formula tied to inflation metrics to determine the annual increase, ensuring that the wage floor keeps pace with economic conditions. This automatic adjustment mechanism means the $11.00 rate for 2026 reflects accumulated inflation since the base period. The adjustment process operates without requiring new legislation each year, providing predictability for both workers and employers. Ohio's approach follows a pattern used by multiple states that index their minimum wages to inflation, though the specific formula and timing can vary by jurisdiction.
Ohio Employers with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or more Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $11.00 Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 Employers with annual gross receipts under $405,000 Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $7.25 Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 The minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a set formula
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
- Hourly
Ohio Employers with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or more Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $11.00
Other years
- 2026
Every Ohio Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state