Virginia Minimum Wage 2026: $12.77 an Hour Effective January 1
Virginia’s minimum wage is $12.77 an hour, effective January 1, 2026, set by state legislation. Tipped employees can be paid a federal cash wage of $2.13 an hour, but total compensation — wages plus tips — must reach the full $12.77 in every workweek, or the employer has to make up the difference.
Virginia at a glance
| Current rate | $12.77 / hour |
|---|---|
| Effective | January 1, 2026 |
| Tipped cash wage | $2.13 / hour (must reach $12.77 combined) |
| Next scheduled change | Set by state legislation |
What this means for hiring
Virginia’s rate applies to most full-time, part-time, and temporary employees, though certain seasonal and job-specific exemptions exist — worth checking against the specific role before assuming the standard rate applies. Because Virginia allows the lower federal tipped cash wage, tipped-role math here works differently than in a state like California with no tip credit at all; the tip-credit gap is the largest of any state on this list.
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