Tennessee minimum wage (2026)
The minimum wage in Tennessee is $7.25 an hour – $15,080 a year for full-time work. Compare it with what common jobs in Tennessee actually pay.
Tennessee minimum wage$7.25/hr
Full-time minimum-wage pay
Gross pay before taxes for a full-time job at $7.25/hr.
Typical pay in Tennessee
3,278,760 jobs$22.78/hr$47,380 a year
The minimum wage equals 32% of the state's median hourly wage.
What common jobs pay in Tennessee
Median wage in Tennessee for its most common jobs (BLS, May 2025).
105,870 jobs in Tennessee$18.35/hrFast Food and Counter Workers
90,690 jobs in Tennessee$13.21/hrRetail Salespersons
87,380 jobs in Tennessee$15.36/hrRegistered Nurses
72,200 jobs in Tennessee$39.18/hrHeavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
64,890 jobs in Tennessee$28.18/hrGeneral and Operations Managers
63,720 jobs in Tennessee$51.43/hrCashiers
63,350 jobs in Tennessee$13.74/hrStockers and Order Fillers
60,130 jobs in Tennessee$17.38/hrCustomer Service Representatives
59,730 jobs in Tennessee$20.59/hrWaiters and Waitresses
52,120 jobs in Tennessee$13.35/hr
Nearby in the ranking
All states ranked ›Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division – State Minimum Wage Laws and the Tennessee labor department (rates, checked October 28, 2026); BLS OEWS (wages). Local and tipped rates are not shown.
Questions & answers
What is the minimum wage in Tennessee in 2026?
The minimum wage in Tennessee is effectively $7.25 an hour, the federal rate. Tennessee has no state minimum wage law.
Is Tennessee's minimum wage going up?
No statewide increase is scheduled as of October 28, 2026.
How much is a full-time minimum-wage job in Tennessee per year?
At $7.25 an hour, 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours) comes to $15,080 a year before taxes, or about $290.00 a week.
What is the typical wage in Tennessee?
The median wage for all jobs in Tennessee was $22.78 an hour ($47,380 a year) in May 2025, according to BLS. The minimum wage is 32% of that.
Can my city have a higher minimum wage?
Yes, if Tennessee allows local minimum wages, a city or county can set a higher rate, and employers must pay whichever rate is highest: federal, state or local. Check your city's labor office.