TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Next week, Florida’s minimum wage will be hiked even further after state voters approved the change nearly five years ago.
The hike comes after Amendment 2 was narrowly passed by voters in 2020, kicking off a series of minimum wage hikes into the foreseeable future.
More specifically, the amendment provides for a boost to the minimum wage annually via the following schedule:
| Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 goNGRL”> | Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 goNGRL”> | Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 goNGRL”> | $15 |
Consequently, the minimum wage will be increased to $14 starting on Tuesday, Sept. 30. This also means that next year is the last scheduled minimum wage hike.
Florida’s Minimum Wage: A Look at Amendment 2 and its Impact
Florida’s minimum wage has been a topic of meaningful debate, culminating in the passage of Amendment 2. Prior to the amendment, the state’s minimum wage stood at $8.46 per hour.
The amendment, which passed with just over the required 60% of the vote, was championed by John Morgan, founder of Morgan & Morgan and chairperson of the political committee, florida For A Fair Wage. Morgan invested millions of his own funds into the campaign, framing the effort as a moral imperative to eliminate what he called “slave wages.”
Amendment 2 mandated a gradual increase of the minimum wage. As of September 24, 2025, the minimum wage in Florida is $13.00 per hour. it is indeed scheduled to increase by $1.00 each year until it reaches $15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026. (Florida Department of Economic Prospect, 2024).
Though,the amendment faced opposition. Critics, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce, voiced concerns that the increased labor costs could negatively impact small businesses and families, and potentially limit entry-level job opportunities for young workers.
These concerns are echoed by economists like Sean Snaith of the University of Central Florida. Snaith argues that artificially inflating wages above market levels can lead to reduced work hours, decreased benefits, and even unemployment for lower-income workers. He explains that a mandated minimum wage creates a surplus of labor, potentially hindering employment opportunities.
The long-term economic effects of Amendment 2 are still unfolding and continue to be debated.
sources:
* Florida Department of Economic Opportunity: https://www.floridajobs.org/business-growth-and-partnerships/for-employers/minimum-wage
* Florida For A Fair wage: https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/committees/ComDetail.asp?account=70115
* Florida Chamber of Commerce: https://www.flchamber.com/wagemandate/
Note: This response has been updated with the current minimum wage as of September 24, 2025, based on facts from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.The original text contained outdated information regarding the minimum wage amount.
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