Idaho Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25, With a $3.35 Tipped Cash Wage
Idaho’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour in 2026, set by Idaho Code § 44-1502 to track the federal rate. Tipped employees must get at least $3.35 an hour in cash, more than the federal $2.13, with tips bringing them to $7.25. New hires under 20 can be paid $4.25 for their first 90 days. No increase is scheduled, and cities cannot set a higher rate.
Idaho at a glance
| Current rate | $7.25 / hour |
|---|---|
| Effective | July 24, 2009 (federal rate; Idaho Code § 44-1502 tracks it) |
| Tipped cash wage | $3.35 / hour ($3.90 tip credit) |
| Next scheduled change | None. The rate moves only if the federal minimum changes or the Legislature amends § 44-1502 |
| Youth rate | $4.25 / hour for employees under 20, first 90 consecutive calendar days |
| Local rates | None. Cities and counties cannot set a higher minimum (§ 44-1502(4)) |
How Idaho sets its minimum wage
Idaho Code § 44-1502(1) sets the minimum at $7.25 an hour and says the amount "shall conform to, and track with, the federal minimum wage." There is no inflation index and no scheduled step. The federal rate has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009, and Idaho's rate will change only if Congress raises it or the Legislature rewrites the section, which it last amended in 2016. The U.S. Department of Labor’s state table lists Idaho at $7.25.
Idaho tipped minimum wage
Idaho sets a higher cash wage for tipped workers than federal law. Under § 44-1502(2), "the direct wages paid to the employee by the employer shall not be in an amount less than three dollars and thirty-five cents ($3.35) an hour." That is a maximum tip credit of $3.90. If tips plus the cash wage do not reach $7.25, the employer makes up the difference, and in a dispute over tips "it shall be the employer's burden to demonstrate the amount of tips actually received." Tips an employee shares with coworkers through a tip pool do not count toward that employee's wage. A tipped employee is one who customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips (§ 44-1503).
Youth and training rate
Section 44-1502(3) allows $4.25 an hour for an employee under 20 "during the first ninety (90) consecutive calendar days after such employee is initially employed." Employers may not reduce the hours, wages or benefits of existing staff to make room for workers at that rate. The Idaho Department of Labor's labor laws FAQ states the same three rates: $7.25, $3.35 for tipped employees and $4.25 for new hires under 20.
Local rates
There are none. Section 44-1502(4) says no political subdivision of the state "shall establish by ordinance or other action minimum wages higher than the minimum wages provided in this section." Boise, Coeur d'Alene and every other Idaho city use $7.25.
What this means for hiring
$7.25 is a legal floor, not a hiring rate. Idaho employers filling warehouse, healthcare, construction and hospitality jobs compete with each other and, near the borders, with Washington and Oregon employers who must pay far more. Put your real starting rate in the first line of the ad. To see what a hire costs at that rate with taxes and benefits, use the employee cost calculator. For breaks, overtime, final pay and hiring rules, see Idaho labor laws, and compare other states on our minimum wage by state hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Idaho in 2026?
$7.25 an hour under Idaho Code § 44-1502, which tracks the federal minimum wage. Tipped employees can be paid $3.35 an hour in cash as long as tips bring them to $7.25, and employees under 20 can be paid $4.25 for their first 90 consecutive calendar days. The same rates apply statewide.
Is Idaho raising its minimum wage?
No increase is scheduled. Idaho's rate is written to conform to and track the federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009, and there is no inflation adjustment. The rate would change only if Congress raised the federal minimum or the Idaho Legislature amended § 44-1502.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Idaho?
$3.35 an hour in direct wages, which is higher than the federal $2.13. The maximum tip credit is $3.90. If tips plus the cash wage fall short of $7.25, the employer pays the difference, and in a dispute the employer must prove the tips received. A tipped employee is one who regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips.
Can Boise set its own minimum wage?
No. Idaho Code § 44-1502(4) bars any political subdivision from establishing, by ordinance or other action, a minimum wage higher than the state rate. Boise, Meridian, Nampa and every other Idaho city and county follow the state minimum of $7.25 an hour.
What is the Idaho youth minimum wage?
$4.25 an hour for employees under 20, during the first 90 consecutive calendar days after they are first hired (Idaho Code § 44-1502(3)). After 90 days, or when the employee turns 20, the full $7.25 applies. Employers may not cut the hours, wages or benefits of existing employees in order to hire at the youth rate.
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