Utah Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25, Capped at the Federal Rate
Utah’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum, and no increase is scheduled. State law lets the Labor Commission set the rate by rule but not above the federal minimum, and it bars cities and counties from setting a higher local wage, so Utah moves only if Congress raises the federal rate or the Legislature changes the law. Tipped employees can be paid a cash wage of $2.13 if tips bring them to $7.25, and employers may pay minors under 18 $4.25 an hour for their first 90 days.
Utah at a glance
| Current rate | $7.25 / hour |
|---|---|
| Effective | July 24, 2009 (federal rate) |
| Tipped cash wage | $2.13 / hour ($5.12 maximum tip credit) |
| Next scheduled change | None; the state rate cannot exceed the federal minimum |
| Local rates | None; cities and counties are barred from setting a higher rate |
| Minors | $4.25 / hour allowed for the first 90 days of employment (under 18) |
How Utah sets its minimum wage
The Utah Minimum Wage Act works differently from most state wage laws. Under Utah Code 34-40-103, the Labor Commission may establish the minimum wage by rule, but the rate “may not exceed the federal minimum wage” under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Commission must review the rate at least every three years and whenever the federal minimum changes, and may set separate minimum wages for minors. In practice that ties Utah to $7.25, the federal rate since July 24, 2009.
The state law also steps aside for most larger employers: under 34-40-104, the state minimum wage does not apply to an employee who is entitled to the federal minimum wage under the FLSA. Either way the number is the same, $7.25. The Legislature meets in a general session each January, and a higher state rate would take a change to the statute.
Tipped employees
According to the Utah Labor Commission, tipped employees, adults and minors, “may be paid $2.13 per hour, but only so long as the tips they earn, in addition to the base wage paid, combined are equal to or exceed the minimum wage.” The U.S. Department of Labor’s tipped wage table lists Utah’s maximum tip credit as $5.12 and the tipped-employee threshold as more than $30 a month in tips. If tips fall short in a workweek, the employer makes up the difference to $7.25.
No local minimum wages
Utah law forbids a city, town or county from establishing a minimum wage above the federal rate, or requiring its contractors to pay more, except where federal law sets a wage on a federally funded project (Utah Code 34-40-106). Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden and St. George all use $7.25.
Exceptions
- Minors: the Labor Commission says minors under 18 must be paid minimum wage, but an employer may pay a minor $4.25 an hour during the first 90 days of employment. Note that the federal youth wage uses a different age limit (under 20), so check which law covers your business.
- Exempt workers: 34-40-104 lists employees the state minimum wage does not cover, including outside salespeople, members of the employer’s immediate family, certain agricultural workers, casual and domestic employees, and seasonal employees of some nonprofit camps and amusement establishments. Many of these may still be covered by federal law.
- Overtime: Utah has no overtime law of its own; the federal 40-hour rule applies. See Utah labor laws for employers for breaks, final pay and hiring rules.
What this means for hiring
$7.25 is a legal floor, not a wage anyone can hire at for frontline work in Utah’s job markets. Because the state rate cannot rise above the federal one, the only thing that moves the number you pay is the local market, which makes the pay in your job ad the figure that decides whether someone applies. Utah does not require a range in postings, but ads that lead with pay, shift and town do better with hourly candidates. To see what a Utah hire costs at the wage you actually pay, use our employee cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Utah in 2026?
$7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum, according to the Utah Labor Commission. It applies statewide, because Utah law bars cities and counties from setting a higher rate. Tipped employees can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash as long as tips bring total pay to at least $7.25.
Is Utah raising its minimum wage?
No increase is scheduled. Under Utah Code 34-40-103 the Labor Commission sets the rate by rule but cannot set it above the federal minimum, so Utah can only rise if Congress raises the federal rate or the Legislature changes the statute. Until then, plan around $7.25, or $2.13 in cash for tipped employees.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Utah?
$2.13 an hour in cash for employees who customarily receive more than $30 a month in tips, the same as the federal tipped cash wage. Tips plus the cash wage must reach at least $7.25 an hour, and the employer pays any shortfall. The maximum tip credit is $5.12.
Can Utah employers pay minors less than minimum wage?
Yes, briefly. The Labor Commission says employers may pay a minor under 18 $4.25 an hour during the first 90 days of employment; after that, the minor must be paid at least $7.25. Minors must also get a 30-minute meal period within the first five hours and a 10-minute break for every four hours worked.
Can Salt Lake City set its own minimum wage?
No. Utah Code 34-40-106 bars a city, town or county from setting a minimum wage above the federal rate, or requiring contractors to pay their employees more, except where federal law sets a wage for federally funded projects. So Salt Lake City and every other Utah locality use $7.25.
Hiring hourly workers in Utah?
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