2018 Utah Tipped Minimum Wage
The 2018 Utah Tipped Minimum Wage is $2.13.
Effective 2018-01-01Source: Wage Claim (Utah Labor Commission, Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2017
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2017.
| Item | 2017 | 2018 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum cash wage | $2.13 | $2.13 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Employers in Utah who pay tipped employees a cash wage below the standard minimum wage
What changed this year, and why
The minimum cash wage for tipped employees in Utah remained $2.13 per hour in 2018.
Common questions
- What was the minimum cash wage for tipped employees in Utah in 2018?
- In 2018, employers in Utah could pay tipped employees a minimum cash wage of $2.13 per hour, provided that the employee's tips combined with the cash wage brought total earnings to at least the applicable minimum wage.
What a tip credit is, and the cash wage underneath it
In Utah, the tip credit is the difference between the cash wage your employer pays you directly and the full minimum wage. Your employer pays you the cash wage of $2.13 per hour, and the tip credit allows them to count your tips toward satisfying the remainder of the minimum wage obligation. This means that as long as your tips plus the $2.13 per hour add up to at least the full minimum wage, the employer has met its wage obligation. However, if your tips in a workweek do not bring your total compensation up to the full minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference and pay you the shortfall directly. The tip credit cannot exceed the actual tips you receive, and the employer always remains responsible for ensuring you receive at least the full minimum wage for every hour worked.
Tipped employees (adults and minors) may be paid $2.13 per hour, but only so long as the tips they earn, in addition to the base wage paid, combined are equal to or exceed the minimum wage.
Wage Claim (Utah Labor Commission, Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division)
When the tips do not get you to the minimum wage
In Utah, when your tips combined with the cash wage of $2.13 per hour do not reach the minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference. The rule is clear: you may be paid $2.13 per hour only so long as your tips plus that base wage equal or exceed the minimum wage. This means the employer must track your actual tips and hours worked, and if the math shows a shortfall in any workweek, the employer owes you the additional amount. The risk of slow business or low tips falls on the employer, not on you. This protection applies to all tipped employees in Utah, whether adult or minor, and it ensures that no tipped worker earns less than the minimum wage regardless of how much they receive in tips.
but only so long as the tips they earn, in addition to the base wage paid, combined are equal to or exceed the minimum wage.
Wage Claim (Utah Labor Commission, Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division)
When state law gives more than the federal rule
When both federal and Utah state law apply to tipped employees, employers must comply with the standard that is most protective of employees. This means that if Utah law provides greater protections or higher wage requirements than federal law, the employer must follow Utah law. Conversely, if federal law offers more protection in a particular area, the employer must follow the federal standard. In Utah, the cash wage for tipped employees is $2.13 per hour, which matches the federal tipped minimum wage. However, other aspects of tipped employee protections may differ between state and federal law, and employers must always apply whichever rule gives you the better protection. This dual-compliance requirement ensures that tipped workers in Utah receive the maximum protections available under either legal system.
There are many areas of agreement between State and Federal child labor law. However, there are some Federal standards that are stricter than Utah law, and if the Federal law applies the employer must comply with the stricter requirement.
Wage Claim (Utah Labor Commission, Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division)
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.
Wage Claim (Utah Labor Commission, Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division)
- Minimum cash wage
Employees receiving tips of at least $30.00 per month may be paid a cash wage of $2.13 per hour
Other years
Every Utah Tipped Minimum Wage year · Tipped Minimum Wage in every state