Hawaii minimum wage 2026–2027: $16.00 now, $18.00 on January 1, 2028
Hawaii's minimum wage is $16.00 an hour, in force since January 1, 2026 – $8.75 more than the federal $7.25. The next change is scheduled for January 1, 2028: $18.00 an hour (+$2.00, 12.5%), fixed in state law. Act 114 (2022) steps: $14.00 in 2024, $16.00 in 2026, $18.00 in 2028.
Share
Hawaii minimum wage pay calculator
Hawaii minimum wage rates
| Who | Rate | From | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most workers (state rate) | $16.00 | January 1, 2026 | official |
| Scheduled increase | $18.00 | January 1, 2028 | law |
| Tipped workers (cash wage) | $14.75 | now | official |
When does the Hawaii minimum wage go up?
The next change is scheduled for January 1, 2028: $18.00 an hour (+$2.00, 12.5%), fixed in state law. Act 114 (2022) steps: $14.00 in 2024, $16.00 in 2026, $18.00 in 2028. Fixed steps in state law, no inflation adjustment.
Tipped workers in Hawaii
Employers may pay tipped workers a cash wage of $14.75 an hour and count up to $1.25, only if wages plus tips are at least $7.00 above the minimum wage of tips toward the minimum wage, as long as wages plus tips reach $16.00 for every hour; otherwise the employer pays the difference.
Hawaii minimum wage history
On January 1, 2020 the Hawaii minimum wage was $10.10; today it is $16.00 – up $5.90, or 58.4%.
| January 1 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $10.10 | $10.10 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $14.00 | $14.00 | $16.00 |
How Hawaii compares
Hawaii ranks tied 5th with 2 others of the 50 states and D.C. The average statewide minimum wage is $11.53; Hawaii's $16.00 is $4.47 above it.
Overtime and pay rules
Overtime: Over 40 hours a week, at one and a half times the regular rate. A full-time week at the minimum wage pays $640.00; with 5 overtime hours it is $760.00.
Good to know
- Employees with a guaranteed monthly pay of $4,000 or more are exempt from the state minimum wage and overtime law (DOL).
- Tip credit of up to $1.25 only if wages plus tips are at least $7.00 above the minimum wage (DOL tipped table).
Where to get help
The minimum wage in Hawaii is enforced by the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division; wage claims: labor.hawaii.gov. The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division takes complaints in every state at 1-866-487-9243, and your name is kept confidential.
Hawaii minimum wage questions
What is the minimum wage in Hawaii right now?
$16.00 an hour for most adult workers. Hawaii's minimum wage is $16.00 an hour, in force since January 1, 2026 – $8.75 more than the federal $7.25.
What will the Hawaii minimum wage be in 2027?
It stays at $16.00 – no change is scheduled for 2027.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Hawaii?
Employers may pay tipped workers a cash wage of $14.75 an hour and count up to $1.25, only if wages plus tips are at least $7.00 above the minimum wage of tips toward the minimum wage, as long as wages plus tips reach $16.00 for every hour; otherwise the employer pays the difference.
How much is the Hawaii minimum wage per year?
At $16.00 an hour and 40 hours a week, $640.00 a week, about $2,773 a month and $33,280 a year before taxes.
Where do I report unpaid minimum wage in Hawaii?
With the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division – or with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (1-866-487-9243). Keep your pay stubs and a record of your hours.
Other states
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division – State Minimum Wage Laws, Consolidated Minimum Wage Table and Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (July 1, 2026 editions), the DOL's history table, and each state's and city's own labor department pages, linked on every state page. Checked October 16, 2026. Rates are for most adult, non-exempt workers; some jobs, industries and employers are exempt or have other rates. This is general information, not legal advice – the state labor department has the final word.