Georgia Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25 an Hour, Set by Federal Law
Georgia’s effective minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the federal rate, for the vast majority of employers. State law technically sets a $5.15 an hour minimum, but that rate applies only to the small number of employers not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and O.C.G.A. 34-4-3(b) excludes employers with five or fewer employees or with annual sales of $40,000 or less from the state minimum altogether. Where the FLSA covers the job, federal law supersedes the lower state rate.
Georgia at a glance
| Effective rate (most employers) | $7.25 / hour (federal) |
|---|---|
| State-law rate (rarely applies) | $5.15 / hour |
| Effective | July 24, 2009 (federal rate) |
| Next scheduled change | None — tied to the federal rate |
What this means for hiring
The $5.15 figure shows up in search results and payroll software defaults often enough to cause real confusion, but it almost never applies — if the business does any interstate commerce (accepts credit cards, ships goods, uses the phone or internet commercially) it’s covered by the FLSA and owes the federal $7.25 floor. Georgia has no state tip credit rules beyond the federal standard ($2.13 cash wage, tips making up the rest to $7.25) and no city or county in the state sets its own higher minimum. To price a role above the floor, including payroll taxes and benefits, use our employee cost calculator.
For breaks, overtime, final paychecks and hiring rules in Georgia, see our Georgia labor laws guide for employers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Atlanta?
$7.25 an hour, the federal minimum, for most Atlanta employers in both 2025 and 2026. Atlanta cannot set a higher rate for private businesses: Georgia Code Section 34-4-3.1 preempts any wage mandate adopted by a local government, including through city contracts. Tipped employees can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash wages if tips bring them to $7.25.
Hiring hourly workers in Georgia?
We can tell you honestly whether your job ads are priced to the current wage floor — before you spend anything.
Book a Demo
Part of Boostpoint’s minimum wage by state series.