COLUMBUS, Ohio - Minimum wage in Ohio is set to increase, starting in 2026.

According to a news release from the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Industrial Compliance, the increase is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Minimum wage for nontipped employees is set to be $11 per hour, which is 30 cents more than last year, while minimum wage for tipped employees will be $5.50 per hour, which is a 15 cent increase since last year.

The change represents a 2.8% increase from the current 2025 rates.

A mandate of the Constitutional Amendment (II-34a), passed by Ohio voters in 2006, indicates that the state's minimum wage will increase on January 1 of each year with the rate of inflation.

"We encourage all employers to stay informed and compliant with the updated wage rates and posting requirements," said Stephen Clegg, Wage & Hour Administration Bureau Chief.

Clegg continued," The Department of Commerce offers resources to support employers in meeting those obligations."

Employers are required to display the official 2026 Minimum Wage posters.

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