Massachusetts considers ending subminimum wage for tipped workers in upcoming ballot initiative

Massachusetts may soon eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped workers. A ballot initiative on November 5, 2024, proposes to gradually raise the tipped minimum wage from $6.75 to $15 per hour by 2029, aligning it with the state minimum wage. Currently, the federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13 an hour, unchanged since 1991. Thirty states and Washington, D.C., have set higher minimum wages, with eight states requiring the full minimum wage for tipped workers. Supporters argue this change would increase earnings and reduce wage theft, while opponents worry it could lead to smaller tips and higher business costs. Arizona voters will also consider a different reform that would lower its tipped minimum wage.