FLORIDA MINIMUM WAGE IS $14.00 STARTING SEPTEMBER 30th

Under a 2020 amendment to the Florida Constitution, the Florida minimum wage automatically increases by $1 every September 30th until it reaches $15 an hour in 2026.

On September 30, 2025, the Florida minimum wage will increase to $14 an hour.

The hourly wage paid to tipped employees will also increase by $1. Starting September 30th tipped employees must be paid a wage of at least $10.98 an hour, not including tips. The cash wage of $10.98 an hour paid to a tipped employee is in addition to tips the employee receives from customers.

A tipped employee’s wage of $10.98 an hour plus tips received from customers during their shift must add up to at least the state minimum wage of $14. If not, the employer must make up the difference.  

IT PAYS TO BE A FUBA MEMBER! FREE MINIMUM WAGE POSTERS FOR FUBA MEMBERS

All Florida businesses are required to display a Florida minimum wage poster, even if all employees are paid higher than minimum wage. As explained above, this poster updates every September.

This poster is free for FUBA members. You can either print additional copies from the Publications section of our website at FUBA.org or you can request additional color copies by emailing us at FUBA@fuba.org.

One of the most valuable benefits of your company’s FUBA membership is this free subscription to the posters required to be posted at your workplace. The experts at FUBA monitor all workplace posters so you don’t have to. As long as you maintain your FUBA membership, you know your business is in compliance with the state and federal employment posting requirements. Not having to worry about these posters is just one of the many benefits of your FUBA membership!

SOME LOCAL CONSTRUCTION LICENSES ABOLISHED AS OF JULY 1st

Effective July 1, 2025, local governments can no longer require a construction license to perform some types of work. Local governments can now require a local construction license only for the following types of work:

  • Structural Aluminum or Screen Enclosures like pool enclosures, and screened porches.
  • Structural Masonry Specialty: Pouring, placement, injecting, and finishing of concrete work like foundations, slabs, footers, etc.
  • Structural Pre-stressed, Precast Concrete Work: Erecting structural precast concrete units like decks, beams, girders, walls, columns, and stairs
  • Structural Steel Work: Installing, and repairing steel framework, columns, sheathing, beams, and fabrication of metal buildings
  • Window and Door Installation (nonstructural), including hurricane protection devices
  • Garage Door Installation, including installation of low voltage wiring for safety features and connecting motors and equipment. Any other electrical work related to the installation of a garage door must be subcontracted to a licensed electrical contractor.
  • Plaster and lath
  • Structural Carpentry: Rough framing, installation of door, window (including metal windows), and structural trusses
  • Residential Swimming Pool/Spa Servicing, including hot tubs and spas
  • Building Demolition: Demolishing structures 50 feet or less
  • Irrigation: Installation, maintenance, repair, and design of irrigation systems, including any necessary excavation work. Excludes water wells and pumps
  • Glass and Glazing: Installation and attachment of windows and glass and sliding glass doors. Includes cutting and installing glass and mirrors
  • Gypsum Drywall: Preparing surfaces for drywall. Does not include plastering.
  • Marine Seawall
  • Marine Bulkhead
  • Marine Dock
  • Marine Pile Driving
  • Marine Specialty (includes all of the above marine subsets)
  • Rooftop Solar Heating Installation
  • Specialty Structure
  • Swimming Pool Specialties: Decking, Excavation, Finishes, Layout, Piping, Structural & Trim
  • Industrial Facility: Construction, repair, or demolition of uninhabitable industrial structures housing manufactured industrial equipment and energy production
  • Tower Specialty: Construction and repair of towers for cellphone, water, energy, and utilities
  • Gas Line: Installation, testing, and repair of natural gas lines

If you have a local license issued by your city or county building department to work in the above categories, your license is still good and you can keep using your local license to work in your local area.

If you would like to work in other areas of the state, you can apply for a state license that enables you to work anywhere in Florida. You will need to pass a competency exam and pay a filing fee. 

For more information about getting a state license, email the state Construction Industry Licensing Board at CILB@myfloridalicense.com or visit their website at: www2.myfloridalicense.com/construction-industry/hot-topics/. 

If the type of work you do isn’t listed above, you are no longer required to have a local construction license. For example, if you are a painter and your local building department has previously required you to have a painting license, they are prohibited from requiring you to have that license.

There is one exception. Local governments can still require a license to do the following types of work:

  • Veneer, including aluminum or vinyl gutters, siding, soffit, or fascia
  • Rooftop painting, coating, and cleaning above three stories in height; and
  • Fence installation and erection

If you work in the above three areas and have a local license issued by your local building department, your local building department can continue to require you to have an active license to keep working.