what is minimum wage in va

The minimum wage in Virginia in 2026 is $12.77 per hour for most covered, non-exempt employees.

Quick Scoop

• Current Virginia minimum wage (2026): $12.77/hour.

• Effective period: From January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027 (after that, it’s adjusted annually).

• 2025 rate (for context): $12.41/hour before the increase kicked in for 2026.

• This state rate is higher than the federal minimum of $7.25, so in Virginia the state rate is what really matters for most jobs.

Virginia now adjusts its minimum wage each year using inflation data (CPI-U), so you can expect the number to change again on January 1, 2027, rather than staying fixed for many years.

If you’re looking at a specific job (like restaurant work or tipped roles), check whether different rules apply to tipped employees or special categories, since some sources still discuss earlier scheduled jumps to $13.50 and $15.00 that were later superseded by the current inflation- adjustment system.

TL;DR: If you work a regular hourly job in Virginia in 2026, the standard minimum you should be seeing on your paycheck is $12.77 per hour.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.