The minimum wage in Orlando, Florida, is $12.00 per hour in 2023 and will be for the majority of 2024.
Orlando, Florida, is undoubtedly one of the most popular cities in the U.S., and not just within the Sunshine State itself.
Many people choose Orlando as their place to live and work due to the abundance of opportunities, low taxes, consistently incredible weather, and its world-class attractions and restaurants.
The following graphic shows the Orlando minimum wage rate over the past several years, which has been increasing at a consistent and gradual rate each year.
If you scroll to the bottom of the page, we have included a table that shows you the history of the Orlando minimum for every year since 1983.
The weekly minimum wage in Orlando equates to $480 ($12×40) if you are working a full 40-hour week.
There are, however, some exceptions to this hourly wage for student workers, tipped employees, and overtime workers, who may all receive different minimum wage rates.
Orlando Minimum Wage Exemptions
There are rules and laws in place to ensure that employers are paying their employees the minimum wage or above in Orlando, Florida unless they are exempt employees.
In 2021, David Strong, President, and CEO of Orlando Health, issued a statement that they would raise the wages of Orlando Health Workers to $15.00 per hour by 2023.
So, the current minimum wage for Orlando Health Workers is $15.00 per hour.
Below are the minimum wage rates for exempt employees in Orlando:
- Orlando’s minimum wage for tipped employees is $8.98 per hour with a tip credit rate of $3.02.
- Student-workers (full-time high school or college) in Orlando are paid a minimum wage of $10.20 per hour for up to 20 hours of work a week. Any more than this, and they are eligible for the full minimum wage of $12 per hour.
- The overtime minimum wage in Orlando is $18 per hour for every hour worked in excess of 40 hours per week.
- The minimum wage for employees under the age of 20 is $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment. After this, they are eligible for the Orlando minimum wage rate of $12 per hour.
- The minimum wage in Orlando for health workers is $15 per hour.
What is the Orlando Living Wage?
Due to Orlando being such a large city with a busy and ever-growing population and a competitive job market, you would anticipate the average minimum wage rate to be slightly higher than $12 per hour.
However, there is a ‘living wage’ for Orlando, which is calculated based on how much a person needs to pay their bills, food, and general cost of living expenses while living in the city.
So, the living wage for an adult living alone with no children in Orlando (Orange County) is $18.85 per hour (via Living Wage Calculator), which is $6.85 higher than the minimum wage for the state itself.
Fortunately, certain employers in Orlando take this into account when they contemplate how much they should be paying employees within the city.
Taking all of the living expenses into account, the living wage annual salary (for a full-time person) in Orlando is $39,208 ($18.85 x 2080 hours) before state income tax in Florida.
What is the Average Wage in Orlando?
Now that we know the minimum wage, exemptions, and the cost of living, or living wage, in Orlando, let’s dive in and look at what the average wage is for employees in Orlando.
According to ziprecruiter.com, the average base hourly rate is approximately $19 per hour in Orlando.
If you worked full-time, the average annual income would be approximately $40,364.
So, as an employee in Orlando, you have a good chance of being paid a higher wage than the minimum wage of $12.00 per hour.
Fortunately, the average wage in Orlando is just an average calculation, and you could certainly earn more than this when moving to the state.
However, you may be paid even less, with the minimum wage being $12.00 per hour, which is the case for many Servers in Florida.
If the living wage in Orlando is $18.85 and the average salary equates to an effective hourly rate of $19 per hour, Orlando is not the best but certainly not the worst choice for those seeking a move to the Sunshine State.
If Orlando as a city in Florida isn’t for you, or you are not compatible with the minimum wage, living wage, and average wage within the city, you may want to check out our Miami wages page to see whether the coastal city of Miami is better suited to you and your specific needs.
Orlando Minimum Wage Increase Schedule
Orlando had the first increase in its minimum wage per the state’s 2020 constitutional amendment on September 30, 2022.
The second increase was set for September 30, 2023, where it increased from $11.00 per hour to $12.00 per hour.
This voter-approved amendment will continue to increase in future years as follows:
- September 30, 2024: $13 per hour
- September 30, 2025: $14 per hour
- September 30, 2026: $15 per hour
- Beyond 2026: Inflation-linked increases
Orlando Minimum Wage History
The table below displays the historical minimum wage rates in Orlando since 1983. As you can see, the table also includes percentage increases as well as the dollar increase per year.
| Florida City | Minimum Wage | Year | $ Wage Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2023-2024 | $12.00 | 2023-2024 | $1 | 9% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2022-2023 | $11.00 | 2022-2023 | $1.00 | 10% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2021-2022 | $10.00 | 2021-2022 | $1.35 | 15.6% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2021 | $8.65 | 2021 | $0.09 | 1.05% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2020 | $8.56 | 2020 | $0.10 | 1.2% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2019 | $8.46 | 2019 | $0.21 | 2.5% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2018 | $8.25 | 2018 | $0.15 | 1.8% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2017 | $8.10 | 2017 | $0.05 | 0.6% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2016 | $8.05 | 2016 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2015 | $8.05 | 2015 | $0.12 | 1.5% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2014 | $7.93 | 2014 | $0.14 | 1.8% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2013 | $7.79 | 2013 | $0.12 | 1.6% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2012 | $7.67 | 2012 | $0.36 | 4.9% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2011 | $7.31 | 2011 | $0.06 | 0.82% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2010 | $7.25 | 2010 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2009 | $7.25 | 2009 | $0.46 | 6.8% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2008 | $6.79 | 2008 | $0.12 | 1.8% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2007 | $6.67 | 2007 | $0.27 | 4.22% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2006 | $6.40 | 2006 | $1.25 | 24.27% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2005 | $5.15 | 2005 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2004 | $5.15 | 2004 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2003 | $5.15 | 2003 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2002 | $5.15 | 2002 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2001 | $5.15 | 2001 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 2000 | $5.15 | 2000 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1999 | $5.15 | 1999 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1998 | $5.15 | 1998 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1997 | $5.15 | 1997 | $0.40 | 8.42% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1996 | $4.75 | 1996 | $0.50 | 11.76% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1995 | $4.25 | 1995 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1994 | $4.25 | 1994 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1993 | $4.25 | 1993 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1992 | $4.25 | 1992 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1991 | $4.25 | 1991 | $0.45 | 11.84% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1990 | $3.80 | 1990 | $0.45 | 13.43% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1989 | $3.35 | 1989 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1988 | $3.35 | 1988 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1987 | $3.35 | 1987 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1986 | $3.35 | 1986 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1985 | $3.35 | 1985 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1984 | $3.35 | 1984 | $0 | 0% |
| Orlando Minimum Wage 1983 | $3.35 | 1983 | $0 | 0% |
Final Thoughts
The minimum wage in Orlando is the same rate as the Florida state minimum wage, following an hourly wage of $12.00 per hour. As an employee in Orlando, you must be paid this wage or higher by law.
The living wage is significantly higher than the minimum wage within the city, which is why several Orlando employers will pay more than $12.00 per hour to their employees despite not being legally obliged to.
