2023 Virginia Minimum Wage
The 2023 Virginia Minimum Wage is $12.
Effective 2023-01-01Source: 2023 Virginia Minimum Wage Act Notice (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)Verified 2026-08-30
Compared with 2022
| Item | 2022 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $11 | $12 | +$1 (+9.1%) |
Who it applies to
Most employees working in the Commonwealth of Virginia, including employees of small businesses, domestic service employees, home care providers, and babysitters who work more than a minimal number of hours per week.
What changed this year, and why
Virginia's minimum wage increased from $11.00 per hour in 2022 to $12.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2023.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage for tipped employees in Virginia?
- Tipped employees may be paid a lower cash wage, but their total earnings (cash wage plus tips) must equal at least $12.00 per hour. If they do not, the employer must pay the difference.
- Does the minimum wage apply to small businesses?
- Yes. The Virginia Minimum Wage Act does not exempt employees based on the size of their employer. Workers at small businesses must be paid at least $12.00 per hour.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Virginia's minimum wage is $12 per hour, and this rate applies broadly across the state. The Virginia Minimum Wage Act does not exempt employees based on the size of their employer, meaning workers at small businesses must generally be paid at least $12.00 per hour. The document does not describe separate subminimum wage rates for minors, students, or workers in training programs. Instead, Virginia's $12 rate applies to most workers, including those who were previously exempt from minimum wage coverage such as domestic service employees, home care providers, and certain babysitters. If you work in Virginia, your employer must pay you at least $12 per hour unless you fall into a specific category like tipped employees who may receive a lower cash wage with tips making up the difference.
The Virginia Minimum Wage Act does not exempt employees based on the size of their employer. Employees of “small” businesses generally must be paid at a rate of no less than $12.00 per hour.
2023 Virginia Minimum Wage Act Notice (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
If you have questions about Virginia's $12 per hour minimum wage or need to file a wage complaint, contact the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry's Labor Law Division. You can reach them by phone at 804-786-2706, by fax at 804-371-4643, or by email at laborlaw@doli.virginia.gov. Their website at https://www.doli.virginia.gov/ provides additional information about the Virginia Minimum Wage Act. The Labor Law Division is the state agency responsible for handling minimum wage inquiries and complaints in Virginia. If you believe your employer is not paying you the required $12 per hour, this is where you should direct your concerns.
Questions? Contact the Labor Law Division Phone: 804-786-2706 Fax: 804-371-4643 E-mail: laborlaw@doli.virginia.gov Website: https://www.doli.virginia.gov/
2023 Virginia Minimum Wage Act Notice (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
Virginia has set its minimum wage at $12 per hour through the Virginia Minimum Wage Act. The federal minimum wage is established separately under the Fair Labor Standards Act. When both a state minimum wage and the federal minimum wage apply to a worker, the employer must pay the higher of the two rates. Because Virginia's rate of $12 per hour exceeds the federal floor, workers in Virginia are entitled to at least $12 per hour. Some state laws provide greater employee protections than federal law does, and Virginia is one of those states. The Virginia Minimum Wage Act also extends coverage to workers who were previously exempt, including domestic service employees and home care providers, ensuring broader wage protection across the Commonwealth.
Fair Labor Standards Act: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/chapter-8
2023 Virginia Minimum Wage Act Notice (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Virginia requires most workers to be paid at least $12 per hour. However, tipped employees in Virginia who regularly receive more than $30.00 a month in tips may be paid a lower direct cash wage of $2.13 per hour. This is not a complete exemption from the minimum wage. The employer must ensure that the employee's tips combined with the $2.13 hourly cash wage equal at least $12.00 per hour in total earnings. If an employee's tips plus cash wages fall short of $12.00 per hour in any workweek, the Virginia employer must pay the difference. This means a Virginia worker receiving tips is guaranteed to take home no less than $12 per hour once tips and employer-paid wages are combined. Employers cannot use the tip credit to avoid paying the full state minimum wage when tips are insufficient.
Tipped employees (those who regularly receive more than $30.00 a month in tips) may be paid at the tipped minimum wage of $2.13 per hour. However, an em ployee’s hourly wages plus tips must meet the Virginia minimum wage rate of $12.00 per hour. If they do not, an employer must pay the difference to an em ployee so that they earn at least $12.00 per hour.
2023 Virginia Minimum Wage Act Notice (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Virginia's minimum wage is $12 per hour, effective January 1, 2023. The state may adjust this rate in future years based on changes in the cost of living. When the cost of living increases, the minimum wage rate may be raised accordingly through a cost-of-living adjustment. Any adjustment to the rate is announced by the state and takes effect on a specified date. Workers in Virginia should be aware that the minimum wage may increase over time as economic conditions change. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry provides information about the current rate and any future adjustments. The most recent increase brought the rate to $12 per hour, ensuring that wages keep pace with living costs in the Commonwealth.
Minimum Wage Increases to $12.00 per hour Effective January 1, 2023
2023 Virginia Minimum Wage Act Notice (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)
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.
2023 Virginia Minimum Wage Act Notice (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)
- Hourly
Minimum Wage Increases to $12.00 per hour Effective January 1, 2023
Other years
Every Virginia Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state