2025 Virginia Minimum Wage
The 2025 Virginia Minimum Wage is $12.41.
Effective 2025-01-01Source: 2025 Virginia Minimum Wage Poster (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)Verified 2026-08-30
Compared with 2024
| Item | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $12 | $12.41 | +$0.41 (+3.4%) |
Who it applies to
All non-exempt employees working in the Commonwealth of Virginia
What changed this year, and why
Effective January 1, 2025, the Virginia hourly minimum wage is $12.41 per hour. The Virginia Minimum Wage Act applies to all employers regardless of business size.
Common questions
- 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. All non-exempt employees must be paid at least $12.41 per hour beginning January 1, 2025.
- How are tipped employees affected?
- Tipped employees may be paid at a lower cash wage under the tip credit provision, but their total hourly wages plus tips must equal at least $12.41 per hour. If they do not, the employer must pay the difference.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
In Virginia, the minimum wage of $12.41 per hour applies to nearly all workers regardless of age, student status, or training status. Unlike some states, Virginia does not have a separate subminimum wage for minors, students, or employees in training programs. Young workers and learners must be paid the full state minimum wage. The Virginia Minimum Wage Act does not exempt employees based on the size of their employer, and the only workers who may be paid less than $12.41 per hour are those who qualify for specific exemptions under the Act, such as tipped employees covered by federal tip credit rules. Employers in Virginia should be aware that there is no blanket lower rate for young or inexperienced workers.
Note: Employees of small businesses must be paid at a rate of no less than $12.41 per hour if they are not otherwise exempt under the Act.
2025 Virginia Minimum Wage Poster (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
In Virginia, workers with questions about the minimum wage or who believe they have not been paid correctly should contact the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Division of Labor and Employment Law. This division handles wage complaints and can provide guidance on whether an employer is complying with Virginia's minimum wage law. The division can be reached by phone at (804) 786-2706 or by email at Laborlaw@doli.virginia.gov. More information is also available on the department's website at www.doli.virginia.gov. Workers in Virginia should keep records of hours worked and pay received, as this documentation will be important if a complaint needs to be filed with the state labor office.
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Division of Labor and Employment Law $12.41per hour (804) 786-2706 Laborlaw@doli.virginia.gov www.doli.virginia.gov Questions? Contact DOLI’s Division of Labor and Employment Law:
2025 Virginia Minimum Wage Poster (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
In Virginia, employers may count tips toward the minimum wage under the federal "tip credit" rules. A tipped employee is someone who regularly receives more than $30.00 a month in tips. Such workers may be paid a base wage of $2.13 per hour, but their total earnings—hourly wage plus tips—must reach at least $12.41 per hour. If an employee's tips fall short in any pay period, the employer must make up the difference so the worker earns no less than $12.41 per hour. This rule applies to restaurants, hotels, and other businesses where tips are customary. Virginia does not have a separate state tip credit rate; the federal tip credit provisions apply. Employers in Virginia should track tipped employees' total earnings carefully to ensure compliance with the $12.41 hourly floor.
Under the “tip credit” provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 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 employee’s hourly wages plus tips must meet the Virginia minimum wage rate of $12.41 per hour. If they do not, an employer must pay the difference to an employee so that they earn at least $12.41 per hour.
2025 Virginia Minimum Wage Poster (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
In Virginia, the minimum wage is adjusted each year to keep pace with inflation. The 2025 rate of $12.41 per hour was set by applying the annual change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) to the rate that came before it. This same cost-of-living adjustment method will be used every year going forward, so workers in Virginia can expect the minimum wage to rise automatically as prices rise. The adjustment is required by state law and takes effect on January 1 of each year. Employers and employees in Virginia should watch for the updated rate each winter to make sure paychecks reflect the new floor.
Annual adjustments to the Virginia minimum wage rate will continue in future years using the same methodology.
2025 Virginia Minimum Wage Poster (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.
2025 Virginia Minimum Wage Poster (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry)
- Hourly
effective January 1, 2025, the adjusted state hourly minimum wage has been established at $12.41 per hour
Other years
Every Virginia Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state