Current Minimum Wage
Connecticut minimum wage$16.94since January 1, 2026↑ $17.48 on January 1, 2027

State minimum wage

Connecticut minimum wage

$16.94 an hour as of September 2, 2026, rising to $17.48 on January 1, 2027. Tipped cash wage $6.38.

  • The Connecticut minimum wage is $16.94 an hour, set by state law effective .
  • The next change is on : $17.48.
  • Tipped employees must be paid at least $6.38 in cash, with a tip credit of up to $10.56.
  • A youth or training wage of $14.40 applies: Persons under 18 (except emancipated minors) may be paid not less than 85% of the minimum wage for the first 90 days of employment (CGS 31-58(i)(5)); $14.40 computed from $16.94..
  • At $16.94 an hour, full-time work (2,080 hours) pays $35,235 a year before taxes.

Tipped cash wage

$6.38
Tip credit up to $10.56

Youth / training

$14.40
Persons under 18 (except emancipated minors) may be paid not less than 85% of the minimum wage for the first 90 days of employment (CGS 31-58(i)(5)); $14.40 computed from $16.94.

Next change

$17.48
· announced

Local rates

None found
No express state statute preempting local minimum wages was located; no Connecticut municipality has enacted one.

Scheduled increases in Connecticut

January 1, 20271 jurisdiction
State$17.48
Connecticutannounced · Connecticut DOL lists '$17.48 effective on January 1, 2027' (ECI adjustment under CGS 31-58(i)).
$17.48from $16.94 (+$0.54)

Rate tiers

TierRateRule
bartenders (tipped)$8.23Cash wage for bartenders who customarily receive gratuities; tips make up the balance to $16.94.

Coverage, exemptions, and history

Who is covered. all employers.

Tipped employees. Employer's share is fixed at $6.38 per hour for hotel and restaurant employees who customarily receive gratuities and $8.23 for bartenders, with tips making up the difference to the full minimum...

Indexing. Adjusted by Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries, all civilian workers... on January 1 ; announced Labor Commissioner by October 15.

Recent history. ECI-indexed increase from $16.35 (2025) to $16.94 on 2026-01-01; $17.48 already announced for 2027-01-01.

CGS 31-58(i)(2) also floors the state rate at 0.5% above any higher federal minimum wage.

Statute. Conn.

Common questions

What is the minimum wage in Connecticut?

$16.94 an hour as of September 2, 2026, under state law effective January 1, 2026.

When does the Connecticut minimum wage go up next?

On January 1, 2027, to $17.48.

What is the tipped minimum wage in Connecticut?

$6.38 in cash plus tips; the employer must make up any shortfall to $16.94.

Do any cities in Connecticut have a higher minimum wage?

None were found in effect.

Sources

  1. https://portal.ct.gov/dol/divisions/wage-and-workplace-standards official
  2. https://portal.ct.gov/dol/-/media/dol/2022-new-design-system/divisions/wage-and-workplace-standards/dol-75_adminposter_2026.pdf official
  3. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state official
  4. https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_558.htm official
  5. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped official
  6. https://codes.findlaw.com/ct/title-31-labor/ct-gen-st-sect-31-58.html
  7. https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/inventory-of-us-city-and-county-minimum-wage-ordinances/

Checked 2026-09-02 against Connecticut Department of Labor, Wage and Workplace Standards Division; researcher confidence 0.90.