Tennessee minimum wage in 2026
The minimum wage in Tennessee is $7.25 an hour in 2026 for most workers, the federal rate.
Tennessee has no state minimum wage law. Employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour, which has been the rate since July 24, 2009. That covers most workers: every business with at least $500,000 in yearly sales, every hospital, school and government agency, and any worker whose job involves interstate commerce, such as handling out-of-state calls, mail or goods.
Scheduled increases
No increase is scheduled. Tennessee has no state rate above the federal minimum, so pay only goes up if Congress raises the federal $7.25.
Tipped minimum wage
Tipped workers: employers covered by federal law may pay a $2.13 cash wage if tips make up the rest of $7.25.
How the pay is calculated
Monthly = weekly × 52 ÷ 12 · Yearly = weekly × 52
Federal law requires time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek for most hourly workers, so the calculator pays 1.5× for those hours. The after-tax figure subtracts 2026 federal income tax (with the standard deduction), Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) for the whole year.
Worked example
A full-time job at $7.25 an hour, 40 hours a week: $7.25 × 40 = $290.00 a week. Times 52 weeks, that's $15,080 a year, or $1,256.67 a month.
For a single filer, taxes for the year come to $0.00 federal income tax, $1,153.62 Social Security and Medicare, no state income tax. That leaves about $13,926 a year, or $267.82 a week.
Tennessee minimum wage pay table
| Hours a week | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly | Yearly after tax* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | $145.00 | $628.33 | $7,540 | $6,963 |
| 30 hours | $217.50 | $942.50 | $11,310 | $10,445 |
| 40 hours | $290.00 | $1,256.67 | $15,080 | $13,926 |
*Single filer, 2026 taxes, no pre-tax deductions or local tax.
What this doesn't cover
- Some jobs have their own rules: tipped workers, minors, students, trainees, farm work and very small employers can have different minimums. The U.S. Department of Labor notes its state table doesn't show these.
- Daily overtime rules (for example California's after 8 hours a day) aren't included; only weekly overtime over 40 hours is.
- Tax is an estimate for a full year at the same hours. Refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, which many minimum wage workers qualify for, aren't included.
See your exact paycheck with the Tennessee paycheck calculator. Compare every state on the minimum wage by state page.
Sources
- Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development: Should I be paid minimum wage?
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet #14: Coverage Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Figures last reviewed October 2026. Tax estimates use the same 2026 federal and state tables as the paycheck calculator.