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← All states·Updated July 1, 2026

California tipped minimum wage (2026)

Cash wage (minimum)
$16.90
what your employer must pay per hour, before tips
Max tip credit
$0.00
no tip credit — tips are all yours, on top
Full minimum wage
$16.90
cash + tips must reach at least this

Note: State requires employers to pay tipped employees full state minimum wage before tips.

Simulate a California shift

Legal minimums are the floor. Enter a real shift — your actual hourly is what decides whether the night was worth it.

Your real hourly
$53.82/hr
base pay + tips − tip-out, ÷ hours actually worked
Take-home tips$240.00
Total earned this shift$349.85

Federal tipped minimum cash wage is $2.13/hr — but many states require more, and if tips don't bring you to the full minimum wage ($7.25 federal), your employer must make up the difference. Enter your state's tipped minimum as the base wage for an accurate number.

Quick answers

What is the tipped minimum wage in California?＋

Employers in California must pay tipped workers a cash wage of at least $16.90/hr — the full state minimum wage, before tips (no tip credit allowed). Figures as of July 1, 2026 (US DOL).

Can my California employer take a tip credit?＋

No. California requires the full state minimum wage in cash before tips — your tips are 100% on top.

What if my tips don't reach the full minimum wage?＋

Federal law (FLSA) requires your employer to make up the difference whenever cash wage + tips falls below the applicable minimum wage for the pay period. Track every shift so you can prove a shortfall.

Source: U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division (July 1, 2026). Federal floor: $2.13 cash / $7.25 total. Not legal advice — local ordinances (city minimum wages) may set higher rates.

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TipScan reads your checkout slip and computes your real hourly every shift — with California's wage rules built in. Free, no ads.

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