Virginia will increase its minimum wage to $12.77 effective Jan. 1, 2026.
In accordance with Virginia law, the commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry must establish an adjusted state hourly minimum wage each year based on inflation.
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The commonwealth’s new wage was calculated by adding the current minimum wage to the product of the current minimum wage and the percentage increase of the nation’s average consumer price index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the Department of Labor. Inflation was estimated at 2.9% for 2024.
“Virginia’s Minimum Wage Act allows for gradual adjustment of the minimum wage rate in response to economic conditions,” DOLI Commissioner Gary G. Pan said. “The new minimum wage will ensure the Commonwealth remains the leading destination for businesses and job seekers alike.”
The current minimum wage rate for 2025 is $12.41.
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The minimum wage applies to most employees in Virginia, including full-time, part-time, and temporary workers. Tipped workers can receive no less than $2.13 per hour, but their total earnings must equal the minimum wage.
In 2024, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) vetoed a bill that would have increased the minimum wage to $13.50 an hour in 2025 and $15 by 2026.