Georgia Minimum Wage — As of October 2026, Georgia’s state minimum wage statute still lists $5.15 per hour, but the federal Fair Labor Standards Act’s $7.25 per hour applies to nearly every employer, so $7.25 is the effective floor. Tipped workers may be paid $2.13 per hour in cash as long as tips bring total hourly pay to $7.25; the employer must cover any shortfall.
Georgia Overtime — Georgia has no overtime law of its own, so federal rules alone apply: non-exempt employees earn 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a week. Because Georgia’s Department of Labor does not enforce wage claims, workers must file with the federal Wage and Hour Division or bring a lawsuit. Misclassification — calling employees “independent contractors” or “exempt” to dodge overtime — is a leading source of claims.
