COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s minimum wage will increase Jan. 1, 2026, to $11 an hour for non-tipped employees and $5.50 an hour for tipped employees, the Ohio Department of Commerce announced.

The change reflects a 2.8% increase from the current 2025 rates of $10.70 and $5.35, respectively. The wage adjustment follows a 2006 constitutional amendment that ties Ohio’s minimum wage to the inflation rate, according to the department.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) is used to calculate the annual increase. The 2.8% adjustment corresponds to the CPI-W change measured from Sept. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2025.

In addition to higher wages, the threshold for business applicability will rise. Beginning in 2026, the state minimum wage will apply to business

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