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Tipped Minimum Wage Calculator

Tipped employees must still earn at least the full minimum wage once tips are counted. Enter your cash wage, hours and tips to see your effective hourly rate and any make-up pay your employer owes.

Cash wage + tips vs. the minimum wage

Your tipped pay

Does it meet the minimum wage?

Effective hourly
$10.46
Meets the $7.25/hr minimum wage
Cash wage$2.13/hr
Tips per hour$8.33/hr

Federal law lets employers pay a $2.13 cash wage and take a tip credit, but cash plus tips must reach the minimum wage every hour.

Notes

  • Federally, the tipped cash wage can be as low as $2.13/hr, but cash wage + tips must reach $7.25. If not, the employer makes up the difference.
  • Seven states do not allow a tip credit: California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Montana, Minnesota and Alaska. In those states the full minimum wage must be paid in cash before tips.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if my tips don't bring me to minimum wage?

Your employer must make up the difference so your total reaches at least the applicable minimum wage for every hour worked.

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