State Specific

Florida 2010 minimum wage

January 6, 2026state-laws

Florida 2010 Minimum Wage: Rates, History, and Compliance Steps for Employers (SwiftSDS)

If you’re looking up the Florida 2010 minimum wage, you’re usually trying to confirm the exact hourly rate that applied in that year, understand how Florida’s voter-approved minimum wage works, and ensure your workplace postings and payroll practices align with both Florida and federal law. This guide summarizes the 2010 rate, explains when minimum wage started and when it was last raised at the federal level, and provides practical compliance actions for HR teams and business owners.

For posting and notice requirements in Florida workplaces, start with SwiftSDS’s Florida (FL) Labor Law Posting Requirements.

Florida 2010 Minimum Wage: What Was the Rate?

In 2010, Florida’s minimum wage was:

  • $7.25 per hour (effective January 1, 2010)

Florida’s minimum wage is adjusted annually based on inflation under the Florida Constitution (discussed below). For 2010, the Florida rate aligned with the federal minimum wage at $7.25.

Why 2010 matters for audits and back-pay reviews

Even though it’s historical, employers often need the 2010 minimum wage rate for:

  • wage claim investigations,
  • retroactive payroll reviews,
  • litigation support,
  • acquisition due diligence (reviewing legacy pay practices).

How Florida Minimum Wage Is Set (and Why It Changes)

Florida’s minimum wage is not only a federal issue—it’s also governed by state law through a constitutional requirement.

Florida’s state authority: the Florida Minimum Wage Amendment

Florida voters approved a constitutional minimum wage requirement in 2004, commonly referred to as the Florida Minimum Wage Amendment (Article X, Section 24, Florida Constitution). This state rule:

  • establishes a state minimum wage, and
  • requires annual adjustments tied to inflation (generally implemented each January).

Because of this structure, Florida’s minimum wage can differ from the federal rate in later years—even though Florida 2010 minimum wage matched the federal rate.

For location-specific compliance (especially multi-site employers), use SwiftSDS’s Florida (FL) Labor Law Posting Requirements hub and, if applicable, your county/city page such as Highlands County, FL Labor Law Posting Requirements.

“When Did Minimum Wage Start?” and “When Was Minimum Wage Established?”

Many HR teams also ask: when was minimum wage created, when did minimum wage start, or when was the minimum wage established?

At the federal level, the U.S. minimum wage was established by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA). The FLSA created nationwide standards for:

  • minimum wage,
  • overtime,
  • recordkeeping,
  • child labor protections.

To understand how the law still impacts today’s pay practices and enforcement, see SwiftSDS’s overview of the Fair labour standards act and how the statute continues to shape employer obligations in Fair labor standards act still around today.

“When Was the Last Time Minimum Wage Was Raised?” (Federal vs. Florida)

Searches like when was the last time minimum wage was raised, when was minimum wage last raised, or when was the last minimum wage increase can refer to different jurisdictions.

When was the federal minimum wage last raised?

The federal minimum wage was last raised on July 24, 2009, when it increased to $7.25 per hour. Since then, Congress has not enacted another federal increase.

So if you’re asking when was the federal minimum wage last raised, the answer is 2009.

When was Florida minimum wage last raised?

Florida’s minimum wage is typically adjusted annually based on inflation (and in later years by separate ballot initiatives affecting future increases). That means the “last raise” depends on the specific year you’re referencing.

Actionable tip: For compliance, don’t rely on memory or federal numbers—confirm the current Florida rate each year and update postings accordingly via Florida (FL) Labor Law Posting Requirements.

Practical Compliance Requirements for Florida Employers (Posters, Payroll, Records)

Meeting minimum wage obligations isn’t just about paying the right hourly amount. HR and compliance teams should treat minimum wage as a package of duties: correct rate + correct classification + correct notice/posting + records.

1) Post the required FLSA minimum wage notice

Most employers covered by the FLSA must display the official federal wage and hour poster in a conspicuous place.

SwiftSDS hosts the required notice here:

If you have specialized workforces, you may also need the industry-specific versions:

2) Confirm which posting rules apply by location

Posting obligations can vary by jurisdiction and facility type. For multi-location employers (or employers near county/city lines), it’s good practice to standardize how you verify postings.

Examples of SwiftSDS location pages:

3) Ensure the right rate wins: federal vs. state vs. local

A common compliance rule: pay the highest applicable minimum wage (federal, state, or local), where laws overlap.

Even though the Florida 2010 minimum wage matched the federal $7.25 rate, later years may differ. Employers operating in multiple states should build a repeatable annual process to update pay tables.

For comparison research, SwiftSDS also tracks other states’ rules—see alabama minimum wage for a simple example of how some states align more closely with federal wage law.

4) Don’t forget classifications and exemptions under the FLSA

Minimum wage compliance often breaks when employees are misclassified as exempt, not paid for all hours worked, or not paid properly for time that is “work” under the FLSA (training, waiting time, donning/doffing in some settings, etc.).

If your organization is also expanding into jurisdictions with broader employment mandates, you may want related context such as california employment laws (useful for multi-state HR teams managing different compliance frameworks).

Minimum Wage Graph and “Minimum Wage 2016”: How to Use Historical Rates

Some compliance teams look for a minimum wage graph to visualize changes over time or reconcile payroll periods across multiple years. A practical approach is to maintain an internal table (or chart) that includes:

  • the effective date of each change,
  • the applicable federal and state rate,
  • the source reference (FLSA for federal; Florida Constitution and state guidance for Florida).

Searches like minimum wage 2016 are often part of this same historical review workflow—confirming that the rate in a particular year matches payroll records and that the correct poster versions were displayed.

Actionable tip: Keep a “rate change log” alongside your payroll configuration tickets so you can prove when and how updates were implemented.

FAQ: Florida 2010 Minimum Wage and Minimum Wage History

What was the Florida minimum wage in 2010?

The Florida 2010 minimum wage was $7.25 per hour, effective January 1, 2010.

When did minimum wage start in the United States?

The federal minimum wage began with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA)—that’s when the minimum wage was established nationally.

When was the federal minimum wage last raised?

The federal minimum wage was last increased in 2009, when it reached $7.25 per hour (effective July 24, 2009).

Key Takeaway for SwiftSDS Compliance Users

For Florida 2010 minimum wage, the correct rate is $7.25/hour, and compliance should be validated through both pay practices and posting requirements. To keep your worksites audit-ready, use SwiftSDS to verify your exact posting set for each location through Florida (FL) Labor Law Posting Requirements and ensure your team displays the current Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act notice.