Connecticut minimum wage 2026
The minimum wage in Connecticut is $16.94 an hour in 2026, rising to $17.48 on January 1, 2027. Connecticut adjusts its minimum fair wage every January 1 by the federal Employment Cost Index, a measure of wage growth, under a 2019 law. Tipped restaurant and hotel staff have fixed cash wages, $6.38 in 2026, or $8.23 for bartenders.
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At a glance
| Minimum wage now | $16.94 an hour, since January 1, 202625 |
|---|---|
| Next change | $17.48 on January 1, 2027 (announced)1 |
| Tipped employees | $6.38 cash wage, tip credit up to $10.56364 |
| Overtime | 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours a week35 · details |
| Full-time pay | $678 a week, $35,235 a year at 40 hours a week before taxes · calculate for your hours |
| Enforced by | Connecticut Department of Labor, Wage and Workplace Standards Division |
What to know about the Connecticut minimum wage
Connecticut's wage follows the federal Employment Cost Index, a measure of pay growth, rather than consumer prices. Public Act 19-4, signed in 2019, raised the minimum fair wage in steps to $13.00 on August 1, 2021, $14.00 on July 1, 2022 and $15.00 on June 1, 2023.3 From 2024 the rate moves each January 1 by the change in the index of wages and salaries for all civilian workers over the year ending June 30.3 The index rose 3.2% in the year to June 30, 2026, and the Governor announced on August 5, 2026 that the rate will be $17.48 on January 1, 2027.1
Two safeguards are built into the formula. The state rate must always stay at least 0.5% above the highest federal minimum wage, and the Governor can recommend skipping an increase after two straight quarters of falling real economic output in the state.3
Restaurant and hotel staff are paid under a fixed tipped wage rather than a percentage of the minimum, so the employer's cash share does not rise when the minimum does, and tips counted toward the wage must be recorded.4 Workers under 18 who are not emancipated may be paid 85% of the minimum, or $10.10 if that is higher, during their first 90 days on the job.3 The Governor's office reports that more than 60% of Connecticut's minimum wage earners are women and people of color.1
The Wage and Workplace Standards Division of the Connecticut Department of Labor enforces the law, and restaurant and hotel employers must display the department's wage order poster for their industry.
All 2026 rates
| Rate | Applies to | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum fair wage | Most employers in Connecticut$17.48 from January 1, 20271 | $16.9425 |
| Bartenders (tipped) | Minimum cash wage in 2026 for bartenders who customarily receive tips; tips must bring total pay up to the full minimum wage. | $8.233 |
| Minors under 18, first 90 days | Workers under 18 who are not emancipated may be paid 85% of the minimum fair wage, or $10.10 if that is higher, for their first 90 days of work, then the full rate (CGS 31-58(i)(5)). | See rule3 |
Tipped employees
| Tip credit | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Minimum cash wage | $6.38 an hour364 |
| Maximum tip credit | $10.56 an hour |
In 2026 employers pay a fixed cash wage of $6.38 an hour to tipped hotel and restaurant staff and $8.23 to bartenders, and tips must cover the rest of the minimum wage. Tips counted toward the wage must be recorded and backed by the employee's statement or other evidence (CGS 31-60).
An employer that takes a tip credit must make up the difference whenever wages plus tips fall short of the full minimum wage for the workweek. See the tipped minimum wage guide.
Overtime and salaried staff
| Weekly overtime | After 40 hours in a workweek, at 1.5 times the regular rate35 |
|---|---|
| Daily overtime | None in state law |
| Seventh day | Restaurants and hotel restaurants: time and a half the minimum rate for the seventh consecutive day of work |
| Exempt salary | The federal level, $684 a week ($35,568 a year) |
Time and a half after 40 hours a week (CGS 31-76c), with exemptions listed in CGS 31-76i. Restaurant and hotel restaurant employees also receive premium pay for a seventh consecutive day of work.
Overtime at the minimum wage of $16.94 is $25.41 an hour. Salaried managers, administrators and professionals are exempt from overtime only if they meet the duties tests and are paid at least the exempt salary. See overtime rules in every state or calculate pay with overtime.
How the rate changes
Each January 1 the rate rises by the percentage change in the federal Employment Cost Index (wages and salaries, all civilian workers) over the 12 months ending June 30, rounded to the cent, and the Labor Commissioner announces it by October 15 (CGS 31-58(i)). The rate must stay at least 0.5% above the federal minimum, and an increase may be suspended after two consecutive quarters of negative real growth in state economic output.
Announced by the Governor on August 5, 2026, after the Employment Cost Index rose 3.2% in the year to June 30, 2026.
Indexed to inflation: yes. Adjusted each January 1 by the Employment Cost Index (wages and salaries, civilian workers) for the year to June 30.3
Rate history
| Effective | Status | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2027 | Announced | $17.481 |
| January 1, 2026 | In effect now | $16.9425 |
| January 1, 2025 | $16.352 | |
| January 1, 2024 | First index adjustment | $15.697 |
| June 1, 2023 | Reaches $15.00 | $15.003 |
| July 1, 2022 | $14.003 | |
| August 1, 2021 | $13.003 |
Who is covered
The minimum fair wage covers employees of private employers, the state and its towns and cities. Exclusions in CGS 31-58(e) include certain domestic workers and babysitters, among other categories.
- Public Act 19-4 (2019) set the steps to $15.00: $13.00 on August 1, 2021, $14.00 on July 1, 2022 and $15.00 on June 1, 2023.
- Indexing to the Employment Cost Index began on January 1, 2024.
- Restaurant and hotel employers must follow and post the Restaurant and Hotel Restaurant Occupations wage order.
Cities and counties
No Connecticut statute addresses local minimum wages, and no city or town has adopted one.
Neighboring states
If you live near a state line, the rate that applies is the one where you do the work, not where you live or where the employer is based.
| State | Per hour now |
|---|---|
| New York | $16.00 to $17.00 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 |
Compare every state on the ranked list and map.
Get help or file a claim
If you are paid less than the minimum wage that applies to your job, you can file a wage claim with the agency below. Federal law prohibits firing or otherwise retaliating against a worker for complaining about federal minimum wage rights.
| Agency | Connecticut Department of Labor, Wage and Workplace Standards Division |
|---|---|
| The law | CGS 31-58 (minimum fair wage); CGS 31-60 (gratuities, regulations); Public Act 19-4 |
| Federal | U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, 1-866-487-9243 |
Sources
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Is a rate wrong or out of date? Report an error