Overview

• Tipped employees now must be paid a cash wage of $10.98 per hour, with tips on top.
• The final scheduled step to $15 takes effect on Sept. 30, 2026, after which annual adjustments will track inflation.
• United Way pegs a statewide "stable survival" income near $17 an hour, while MIT estimates roughly $25 for a single adult in the Miami area.
• Analysts warn higher mandated pay can prompt employer responses such as price increases or automation and may trigger benefits-cliff losses for some families.
• Florida’s constitution protects workers’ right to file complaints, and employers face $1,000 fines per violation for failing to meet wage rules.