Minimum wage in Connecticut, 2000–2027
- Minimum wage in 2026
$16.94 an hour1
In force since Jan 1, 2026.
- On January 1, 2027
$17.48 an hour1
Up $0.54 from today.
- Tipped employees
$6.38 an hour in cash2
Employers may count up to $10.56 an hour of tips toward the minimum wage. Rate shown: Hotel, restaurant.
- Overtime
Premium pay after 40 hours a week3
The Connecticut minimum wage rose from $6.15 in 2000 to $16.94 in 2026; $17.48 from Jan 1, 2027
Line chart of the Connecticut minimum wage against the federal minimum: $6.15 in 2000, $8.25 in 2010, $12 in 2020, $16.94 in 2026, and $17.48 in 2027. The federal minimum was $5.15 in 2000 and $7.25 in 2026.
What a full-time minimum-wage employee costs in Connecticut
At $16.94 an hour for 40 hours a week, a new employer with 10 staff pays $35,235 in wages and $3,772 on top (10.7%) in payroll taxes and workers' comp. At the 2027 rate of $17.48 with 2026 payroll tax rates: $40,233 a year.
- Wages (2,080 paid hours a year)
- $35,235
- Social Security (employer share)6.2%5 of $35,235
- $2,185
- Medicare (employer share)1.45%6 of $35,235
- $511
- Workers' compensation (benchmark index rate)$1.48 per $100 of payroll9
- $521
- Total a year
- $39,007
If you also offer single health coverage, the average employer here pays about $8,216 more a year: a $9,987 average premium10 less $1,771 paid by the employee10.
Change the inputs in the Connecticut employer cost calculator
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Connecticut in 2026?
$16.94 an hour since Jan 1, 2026: $35,235 a year at full time.
What will the minimum wage be in Connecticut in 2027?
$17.48 an hour from Jan 1, 2027, after $16.94 an hour in 2026: $36,358 for a full-time year.
What is the minimum wage for tipped employees in Connecticut?
$6.38 an hour in cash, with up to $10.56 of tips counted toward Connecticut's $16.94 (Hotel, restaurant).
How much does a minimum-wage employee cost an employer in Connecticut?
About $39,007 a year full time at $16.94: $35,235 of pay plus $3,772 on top, $3,250 in payroll taxes and $521 in workers' comp, before any health coverage.
How has the Connecticut minimum wage changed since 2000?
The Connecticut minimum wage rose from $6.15 in 2000 to $16.94 in 2026; $17.48 from Jan 1, 2027. On the way: $8.25 in 2010 and $12 in 2020, per the U.S. DOL.
More minimum wage and employer cost pages
Employer costs in Connecticut
States with a similar minimum wage
Data and rules for every state
Sources
The 10 pages this page's facts come from, with the day we last checked each one. The numbers beside the figures above link here.
Quotes from the sources
- Connecticut Department of Labor portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/08-2026/governor-lamont-announces-minimum-wage-will-increase“Connecticut's minimum wage will adjust to $17.48 per hour beginning January 1, 2027—an increase from the 2026 rate of $16.94 per hour.” “Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut’s Minimum Wage Will Increase to $17.48 on January 1, 2027”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped“Definition of Tipped Employee by Minimum Tips received (monthly unless otherwise specified) … State requires employers to pay tipped employees a minimum cash wage above the minimum cash wage required under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act ($2.13/hour) … Connecticut … Hotel, restaurant $10.56 $6.38 Not specified”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state“Connecticut … Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $16.94 … Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 … The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law: Selected Years 1968 to 2024“Connecticut 1.40 1.60 1.85 2.21 & 2.31 2.91 3.12 3.37 … Connecticut 3.75 4.25 4.27 4.27 4.27 4.77 5.18 … Connecticut 6.15 6.40 6.70 6.90 7.10 7.10 7.40 … Connecticut 7.65 7.65 8.00 8.25 8.25 8.25 8.25 … Connecticut 8.70 9.15 9.60 10.10 10.10 11.00 … Connecticut 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 15.69” “Federal (FLSA) $1.15 & $1.60 $1.30 & $1.60 $1.60 $2.20 & $2.30 $2.90 $3.10 $3.35 … Federal (FLSA) $3.35 $3.80 $4.25 $4.25 $4.25 $4.75 $5.15 … Federal (FLSA) $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 $5.15 5.15 … Federal (FLSA) 5.15 5.85 6.55 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 … Federal (FLSA) 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 … Federal (FLSA) 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25”
- Internal Revenue Service IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide“For 2026, the social security tax rate is 6.2% (amount withheld) each for the employer and employee (12.4% total).”
- Social Security Administration ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html“Tax rates under the HI program are 1.45 percent for employees and employers, each, and 2.90 percent for self-employed persons.”
- Internal Revenue Service Topic no. 759, Form 940 – FUTA tax (IRS)“If you're entitled to the maximum 5.4% credit, the FUTA tax rate after credit is 0.6%.” “FUTA tax rate: The FUTA tax rate is 6.0%. The tax applies to the first $7,000 you paid to each employee as wages during the year.”
- U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/content/sigpros/2020-2029/January2026.pdf“New employer rate shown is the base rate. … CT … 1.9%” “CT … $27,000”
- Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services oregon.gov/dcbs/reports/cost/Pages/premium-index-rates.aspx“Premium index rate: $1.25-$1.50 … State Index rate Percent of study median … 6 10 Connecticut 1.48 135%”
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (MEPS-IC) meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_stats/summ_tables/insr/state/series_2/2025/ic25_iia_f.pdf“Table II.C.1 Average total single premium (in dollars) per enrolled employee … Division and State Total … Connecticut 9,987 7,637 8,410 10,030 10,273 10,264 8,243 10,364” “Table II.C.2 Average total employee contribution (in dollars) per enrolled employee for single coverage … Division and State Total … Connecticut 1,771 1,695 * 1,481 2,658 1,520 1,751 1,843 1,755”