Ohio's minimum wage is increasing in 2026.
Starting Jan. 1, Ohio's minimum wage increases to $11 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.50 per hour for tipped employees. That's up 30 cents per hour for non-tipped employees and 15 cents per hour for tipped employees.
Ohio's minimum wage has been tied to inflation since voters approved the change in November 2006.
Democratic lawmakers and a ballot group have pushed to increase Ohio's minimum wage to $15 an hour - to no avail.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimates that a living wage for a single Ohioan with no children is $20.38 an hour. That would cover food, housing, transportation and other necessities for someone working full-time.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@usatodayco.com or @jbalmert on X.