Virginia Minimum Wage 2026
Virginia's minimum wage of $12.77 in 2026 is about average in the United States, and it is significantly higher than than the base federal minimum wage of $7.25 still used in 20 states.
Federal 
Virginia Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the weekly minimum wage in Virginia is $510.80. For full-time employees working 52 weeks per year, the annual minimum wage in Virginia is $26.6K.
Based on $12.77/hr minimum
Based on $12.77/hr minimum
The minimum wage rate of Virginia and its neighboring states ranges from $7.25 to $15, with an average of $9.71. Virginia, at $12.77, has an above average hourly minimum wage within this group of states. Maryland ($15) has higher hourly rates than Virginia. West Virginia ($8.75), Kentucky ($7.25), North Carolina ($7.25), and Tennessee ($7.25) have lower hourly rates than Virginia.
Virginia While the general minimum wage is $12.77 per hour in Virginia, there are several exceptions where workers may legally receive less than this amount:
These employees have a minimum wage of $9.50, provided they earn more than $30.00 per month in tips from persons other than their employer.
These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
The workers are engaged in the activities of an educational, charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization where the relationship of employer-employee does not exist or where the services rendered to such organization are on a voluntary basis. These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
Traveling salespeople and salespeople working on a commission only basis are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
This includes anyone employed by a penal or corrective institute in Virginia as well as anyone admitted to a state hospital or training center operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
Provided they are 18 years of age and enrolled full time, these workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
These workers, as defined by Virginia state law, are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
These workers are not considered 'employees' in the legal sense and thus not entitled to state minimum wage legislation.
Virginia's cost of living index for 2025 is 100.8, which places it as the 22nd most expensive state to live in the United States.
National 100
Virginia 100.8
Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the real wage in Virginia, adjusted for the state’s cost of living index of 100.8, is approximately $12.67 per hour. This means that while the nominal minimum wage is $12.77 per hour, the purchasing power of those earnings is lower due to Virginia's higher cost of living expenses. For full-time employees, the real weekly earnings amount to roughly $506.75, translating to an annual purchasing power of $26,350.79 when working 52 weeks per year.
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According to the most recent data, the median household income in the United States has seen a significant increase in 2023.
Virginia’s minimum wage was increased under a 2020 law that set a series of scheduled raises above the federal level, followed by an adjustment mechanism tied to inflation. While earlier increases required legislative approval to proceed, current law directs the state labor commissioner to update the wage annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, resulting in gradual, inflation-linked increases.
