Georgia State Minimum Wage

In January 2023, the Georgia state minimum wage remained the same as years went by, $5.15 per hour. The minimum wage rate in Georgia is even lower than the federal minimum wage, however, the majority of employees are covered by the federal age, meaning that they are entitled to a wage of $7.25 per hour or more.

Another state with a minimum wage as low as Georgia is Wyoming, which is also $5.15 per hour. Workers in Wyoming are also entitled to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 if they work for a company that is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Note: If you are an employee in Georgia and you are not covered by the fair labor standards act, then you may not be entitled to the federal minimum wage, meaning that you can be paid as low as $5.15 per hour.

If you are a full-time worker on Georgia state minimum wage, your earnings could be as follows:

• Weekly Minimum Wage: $290.00 (based on a 40-hour week).
• Yearly Minimum Wage: $15,080 (based on being paid 52 weeks per year).
• There is before the Georgia state income tax is deducted.

Did the Georgia Minimum Wage Go Up?

The graphic below highlights the Georgia minimum wage over the past several years. The minimum wage did not go up and remains at $7.25 per hour in 2023.

Note: If you are an employee in Georgia and you are not covered by the fair labor standards act, then you may not be entitled to the federal minimum wage, meaning that you can be paid as low as $5.15 per hour.

If you would like to know more about how the fair labor standards act affects the Georgia minimum wage, take a look at the Georgia Department of Labor website.

Also, you can view and download the Georgia minimum wage labor law poster for 2022-2023 here at no charge. Employers must display an official poster outlining the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ensuring that accurate employee time and pay records are kept.

As a state, the Georgia minimum wage 2023 is the joint lowest minimum wage out of all 50. Although, most employees will either be getting paid above or the same as the federal minimum wage. Many major cities in Georgia have boosted the amount they pay their employees to help the residents of Georgia make ends meet. Additionally, there is a different minimum wage for tipped employees in Georgia.

The Georgia state minimum wage has remained the same since the federal minimum wage was last changed (2009), fortunately for many residents, they will be paid at least the Federal minimum wage or higher. (The Georgia minimum wage over the years has remained the same).

Georgia Minimum Wage History

The table below provides the current rate and history of Georgia’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983. You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.

Georgia minimum wage history for the past 10+ years – downloadable PDF below

Georgia Minimum Wage History – Downloadable PDF

Georgia Minimum Wage News

With the minimum wage being such a hot topic, with things changing and new laws coming into play seemingly all the time, we have created a news section to update you on the latest news happening with Georgia’s minimum wage.

New Bill Looking to Increase the Georgia Minimum Wage to $15 Per Hour

A new bill has been introduced to the latest legislative session that would allow local governments within GA to set their own minimum wage, similar to California’s at $15.50 per hour, with cities in other regions of the state seeing a higher minimum wage.

Georgia Minimum Wage Exemptions

In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, there are a few Georgia state minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation. Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.

Georgia Student Minimum Wage

The minimum wage for student employees in Georgia is 85% of the Georgia minimum wage, making their hourly pay $6.16 per hour in 2023.

This hourly rate is for any hours worked up to 20 hours per week. As a student employee, once you surpass 20 hours per week, you will be eligible to be paid the Georgia minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour.

Being a student can be financially challenging, leading many students to pick up part-time jobs to make extra money while studying. Despite a student minimum wage rate, many Georgia employers will not necessarily follow it and pay you equal to or more than the statewide minimum wage.

Many work-study programs are available at universities, which is a route many students go down. Still, coffee shop, cafe, bar, and restaurant jobs are commonly taken by students as they can work them into their class schedule.

Georgia Under 20 Minimum Wage

If you are under 20 years old in Georgia, federal law allows your employer to pay you as little as $4.25 per hour for your first 90 days of employment.

Once the 90-day period is over, you will be eligible to be paid the 2023 Georgia minimum wage of $7.25 per hour or potentially even more.

Fortunately for young workers, this is 90 calendar days and not 90 working days; therefore, it can be completed relatively quickly and within about three months.

Georgia Tipped Minimum Wage

If you are a tipped employee in Georgia (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $2.13 per hour, with a tip credit of $5.12 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.

Georgia Overtime Minimum Wage

Once you work over 40 hours a week, you are eligible to be paid an overtime rate of 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour you work past 40. So, the overtime minimum wage in Georgia is $10.88 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.