Rates verified and last updated on July 23, 2026
Georgia's effective minimum wage is $7.25 per hour — the federal rate in place since July 24, 2009. Georgia's own statutory minimum wage is just $5.15 per hour, but it only applies to the small set of employers outside FLSA coverage. The tipped cash wage is the federal $2.13, and state law preempts cities such as Atlanta from setting higher local rates for private employers.
| Minimum wage | $7.25/hour (effective July 24, 2009) |
|---|---|
| Tipped minimum wage | $2.13/hour (plus tips to reach $7.25/hour) |
| Overtime | 1.5x after 40 hrs/week (FLSA) |
| Next scheduled increase | None currently scheduled |
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Weekly gross
$290.00
Monthly gross
$1,256.67
Annual gross
$15,080.00
Overtime is calculated at 1.5x the hourly rate. 1.5x after 40 hrs/week (FLSA). Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
| Year | Minimum wage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $7.25/hour | — |
| 2021 | $7.25/hour | — |
| 2022 | $7.25/hour | — |
| 2023 | $7.25/hour | — |
| 2024 | $7.25/hour | — |
| 2025 | $7.25/hour | — |
| 2026 | $7.25/hour | — |
Georgia has no state overtime law, so the federal FLSA governs: non-exempt employees earn 1.5x their regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. There is no daily overtime and no state-specific overtime exemptions beyond the federal ones.
Georgia has no state exempt salary threshold, so the federal FLSA standard applies: at least $684 per week ($35,568 per year) plus a qualifying duties test.
The enforced FLSA exempt salary threshold is $684 per week ($35,568 per year). The 2024 DOL rule that briefly raised it to $1,128 per week was vacated by federal courts in Texas in late 2024, and the DOL formally withdrew the rule on May 14, 2026, restoring the 2019 level.
The effective minimum wage in Georgia is $7.25 per hour in 2026, because the federal FLSA rate overrides Georgia's lower state rate of $5.15. The $5.15 state rate only matters for the few employers not covered by the FLSA.
Georgia's state law (O.C.G.A. 34-4-3) still sets $5.15 per hour, a figure that predates the 2007-2009 federal increases and was never updated. Since nearly all employers are covered by the federal FLSA, the higher $7.25 federal rate is what workers must actually be paid.
Tipped employees in Georgia follow the federal rules: a cash wage of at least $2.13 per hour plus a tip credit of up to $5.12. If tips plus the cash wage do not add up to $7.25 per hour, the employer must make up the difference.
There is no scheduled increase. Georgia's minimum wage rises only if Congress raises the federal minimum wage or the Georgia legislature amends state law. Neither had happened as of July 2026.
Yes, unless they qualify as exempt under the FLSA. Exemption requires both a salary of at least $684 per week ($35,568 per year) and duties that pass the executive, administrative, or professional test. Salaried employees below that threshold are owed 1.5x overtime after 40 hours.
This page is provided for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Wage and hour law changes frequently and can vary by city, county, industry, and employer size. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant government agency or a qualified employment attorney before making payroll decisions.
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