Virginia Minimum Wage: $12.77 in 2026, $13.75 in 2027 and $15.00 in 2028
Virginia Minimum Wage: $12.77 in 2026, $13.75 in 2027 and $15.00 in 2028
If you pay workers in Virginia, the state minimum wage changes twice in the next two years. The rate is $12.77 an hour through December 31, 2026, rises to $13.75 on January 1, 2027, and reaches $15.00 on January 1, 2028. Beginning January 1, 2029, the rate is adjusted every year for inflation. This guide covers each step, the rule for later increases, the Virginia training wage, and what employers need to change in payroll.
| Period | Virginia minimum wage per hour |
|---|---|
| Through December 31, 2026 | $12.77 |
| January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027 | $13.75 |
| January 1, 2028 to December 31, 2028 | $15.00 |
| January 1, 2029 and later | Adjusted each year for inflation (see below) |
What the Law Says
The statutory schedule is in Va. Code 40.1-28.10, as amended by 2026 Acts chapters 350 and 351. The amendments write the $13.75 and $15.00 figures directly into the statute. They are not calculated from a formula, and they do not depend on future inflation data.
For each period, an employer must pay at least the greater of two figures: the Virginia minimum wage for that period or the federal minimum wage. The federal rate is currently lower than Virginia's, so the state rate is the one that applies. Check the U.S. Department of Labor at https://www.dol.gov/ for the current federal figure, because it can change independently of Virginia's schedule.
What a Full-Time Worker Earns
At 2,080 hours a year (40 hours a week for 52 weeks), a worker paid the Virginia rate for a full year earns the following before taxes and before any overtime:
- At $12.77 an hour: $26,561.60
- At $13.75 an hour: $28,600.00
- At $15.00 an hour: $31,200.00
These are illustrations of the schedule, not payroll calculations. Your actual wages depend on hours worked, pay periods and any rule that applies to your workforce.
How the Rate Changes After 2028
By October 1, 2028, and by October 1 of each year after that, the Commissioner of Labor and Industry sets an adjusted minimum wage. That rate takes effect on January 1 and applies for the next 12 months.
The adjustment works like this. The new rate equals the current rate plus the percentage by which the U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose in the most recent calendar year for which data exist. An adjustment can never be below zero, so if prices fall, the minimum wage does not fall with them. The Commissioner's figure, not an estimate, is the number to use for payroll. This guide does not predict the 2029 rate.
Virginia Training Wage
Virginia allows a lower rate for certain trainees. An employee enrolled in an established employer's on-the-job or other training program may be paid at least 75 percent of the Virginia minimum wage, but never less than the federal minimum wage. The training wage applies only when both of these conditions are met:
- The training lasts no more than 90 days.
- The program meets the standards set by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry's regulations.
Seventy-five percent of $12.77 is $9.5775 an hour, but the exact figure, any rounding rule and the program standards come from the Department of Labor and Industry's regulation. Confirm all three before you pay anyone under this rule. Do not treat the training wage as a general entry-level rate, because it is limited to a qualifying program of 90 days or less.
Open Items to Confirm
Several items are still moving through the legislative and regulatory process. Treat each one as unconfirmed until you verify it with the agency named:
- Farm laborers: The farm-laborer exemption is reported to end on January 1, 2027 (verify with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry before changing pay for farm workers).
- Domestic service overtime: The overtime change for domestic service workers depends on re-enactment in the 2027 General Assembly session (verify).
- Signing date: The Governor signed the bills on April 9, 2026 (verify against the enacted bill text).
Tipped Employees and Other Special Rules
This guide does not state a tipped wage or describe special rules for tipped employees. Check with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry before you set any tipped rate. Do not assume that a tipped cash wage follows the general schedule above.
What Employers Should Do
- Update payroll in the pay period that includes January 1 of each change year, which means January 1, 2027, January 1, 2028 and each January 1 after that.
- Compare the Virginia rate with the federal rate for every pay period, and apply whichever is higher.
- Record each employee placed on a training wage, along with the program dates, so you can show the 90-day limit and program eligibility if asked.
- Remember that the minimum wage also sets the rate floor for paid sick leave under Virginia's new sick leave law. When the minimum wage rises, that floor rises with it, so review the paid sick leave rules at the same time you update wages.
Common Payroll Mistakes
The most common error is waiting for a new rate to appear on an employee's paystub. Set a reminder in advance for the pay period that includes January 1, 2027 and January 1, 2028, and update the rate before the first paycheck that falls in the new period.
The second error is applying the 2026 rate to pay earned in 2027. Pay is governed by the rate in effect for the work performed, so confirm which period each pay date covers before you run payroll. If a pay period straddles January 1, ask your payroll provider or accountant how to split the hours.
Where to Confirm These Figures
- Statute: Va. Code 40.1-28.10, as amended by 2026 Acts chapters 350 and 351.
- Virginia Department of Labor and Industry: the annual adjustment notice from the Commissioner, the training wage regulation, tipped employee rules and the open items listed above.
- U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/ for the federal minimum wage.
- Related guides on this site: the employer registration guide and the paid sick leave and paid family leave guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Virginia in 2026?
The Virginia minimum wage is $12.77 an hour through December 31, 2026. Employers must pay the greater of the Virginia rate or the federal rate.
What will the minimum wage be in 2027?
It will be $13.75 an hour beginning January 1, 2027. The figure is written into Va. Code 40.1-28.10, so it is not an estimate.
Does the Virginia minimum wage change every year after 2028?
Yes, beginning January 1, 2029. Each year, the Commissioner of Labor and Industry sets the new rate by October 1, using the most recent calendar year's CPI-U increase. The rate cannot go below the prior year's level.
Is there a Virginia training wage?
Yes. An employee in an established employer's on-the-job or other training program for no more than 90 days may be paid at least 75 percent of the Virginia minimum wage, but never less than the federal minimum wage. The program must meet the Commissioner's regulation, so check that regulation before using the rate.
This guide is informational only. It is not legal, tax or employment advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Some items above are still being confirmed, and wage rules can change. Before you change pay practices, talk with a qualified employment attorney or certified public accountant about your situation.