Minimum Wages in Miami FL – Know Your Rights
At the FairLaw Firm, my office routinely handles cases for employees who were not properly paid the minimum wages they earned. My office is familiar with the many ways in which employers violate the law by analyzing the strict regulations that apply as well as the exemptions that may apply to determine whether an employer has broken the law. My office also is familiar with the reasons why an employee may not be entitled to receive minimum wages.
What Is the Minimum Wage in Miami FL?
Most employees are entitled to receive at least a minimum wage for each hour worked. Certain exceptions apply that would prevent an employer from having to pay an employee or all of its employees minimum wages.
It is tough enough to try and survive by just earning a minimum wage. But trying to live when you get paid less than minimum wage is even more difficult. Most minimum wage jobs are demanding and thankless. When an employer does not properly pay its workers at least a minimum wage for the time worked, the FairLaw Firm can help.
The current federal minimum wage is set at $7.25 per hour for each hour worked. The Florida minimum wage has exceeded the federal minimum wage since June 1, 2011.
The minimum wage is the lowest hourly rate an employer can legally pay most workers. While the federal minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour, Florida has set its own higher standard. Since 2011, Florida’s minimum wage has been above the federal level, and thanks to Amendment 2, it continues to increase by $1 each year until it reaches $15 in 2026.
For workers in Miami FL, this means you are entitled to the state minimum wage, not just the federal rate. As of September 30, 2024, the Florida minimum wage is $13.00 per hour (or $9.98 per hour for tipped employees). By September 30, 2025, the rate will rise again to $14.00 per hour.
Knowing these rates is critical—if your employer pays you less, requires you to cover work expenses, or misclassifies your role, you may be a victim of a minimum wage violation.
Common Minimum Wage Violations in Miami FL
At FairLaw Firm, we frequently see three major types of violations—some obvious, some more subtle—that put you at financial risk.
1. Clear Underpayment
This happens when you’re directly paid less than the law requires. For example, if you’re paid $350 for a 40-hour week when the Miami FL minimum wage is $14/hour (as of September 30, 2025), that only amounts to $8.75/hour—far below the legal requirement.
2. Hidden Wage Reductions (“Kickbacks”)
Sometimes employers effectively pay you less through hidden deductions for gas, uniforms, tools, or other job-related expenses. These unlawful “kickbacks” can push your real take-home pay below the minimum wage.
3. Misclassification as Independent Contractors
If you’re misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee, you’re not protected by minimum wage laws. That can result in you paying for your own job-related costs and receiving less than minimum wage.
4. Tipped Employees and Tip Credits
Tipped workers may earn a lower base pay—but only if tips bring hourly earnings up to the state minimum. For instance, if your cash wage is $10.98/hour (effective September 30, 2025), but you don’t earn enough in tips to reach $14/hour, your employer is shortchanging you.
How FairLaw Firm Helps with Minimum Wage Cases in Miami FL
If your employer has not paid you fairly, FairLaw Firm can help you recover what you’ve earned. Here’s what you may be entitled to under Florida and federal law:
- Unpaid wages for all hours worked below the legal minimum.
- Liquidated damages equal to the unpaid wages (often doubling your recovery).
- Attorney’s fees and court costs covered by your employer if you win.
We regularly represent employees in Miami FL facing minimum wage violations, including:
- Being paid less than the state minimum wage.
- Misclassified as an “independent contractor.”
- Required to pay for uniforms, gas, tools, or other job-related costs that reduce take-home pay.
- Paid under the tipped employee rule without tips making up the difference.
Our firm knows how to hold employers accountable and maximize the recovery available to you.
Get Legal Help for Minimum Wages in Miami FL Today
Don’t let your employer shortchange you. At FairLaw Firm, we make it easy to pursue justice:
- Free consultation to review your case.
- Contingency fee basis — you don’t pay unless we win.
- Personalized guidance from an experienced Miami FL minimum wage lawyer.
Call us today at (786) 998-9127 or contact us online to get started. We’re ready to fight for your wages, your rights, and your future.