Texas Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25 an Hour, and Why Cities Can't Raise It
Texas doesn’t set its own minimum wage. It follows the federal one, which hasn’t changed since 2009.
At a glance
- Minimum wage
- $7.25 an hour
- Tipped workers
- $2.13 cash, tips must bring it to $7.25
- City minimums
- Not allowed for private employers
- Next increase
- Only if Congress raises the federal rate
| Hours a week | Per week | Per month | Per year (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $145.00 | $628.33 | $7,540.00 |
| 30 | $217.50 | $942.50 | $11,310.00 |
| 40 | $290.00 | $1,256.67 | $15,080.00 |
Who’s covered
Most hourly workers in Texas. Some jobs are exempt, including many salaried managers and professionals, some farm workers, and workers covered by other rules. Overtime (time and a half over 40 hours a week) comes from federal law, the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Tipped workers
Your employer can pay as little as $2.13 an hour in cash if your tips make up the rest. If your tips plus the cash wage don’t reach $7.25 for every hour in a workweek, your employer has to pay the difference.
If you’re paid less than you’re owed
- Ask your employer in writing, and keep a copy.
- File a wage claim with the Texas Workforce Commission within 180 days of when the pay was due.
- Or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
- A Texas employment lawyer can tell you whether you’re owed more, such as unpaid overtime. Many take wage cases with no upfront fee.
Sources
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in Texas in 2026?
$7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum wage. Tipped workers can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash if tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
Does Houston, Austin or Dallas have a higher minimum wage?
Not for private employers. Texas law bars cities and counties from setting a higher minimum wage for private businesses. Cities can set pay for their own employees and contractors.
When will the Texas minimum wage go up?
Only if Congress raises the federal minimum wage. Texas ties its rate to the federal one and has no scheduled increase.