Ohio sets a $10.70 statewide minimum wage in 2026 under Constitution Section 34a and ORC §4111. Cincinnati cannot legally raise it locally; Issue 7 in 2009 attempted but failed.
Ohio Constitution Article II Section 34a, adopted in 2006, indexes the state minimum wage annually. The 2026 rate is $10.70 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.35 for tipped workers at employers grossing over $385,000. ORC §4111 implements the constitutional rate and explicitly preempts municipalities from setting different local floors. Cincinnati Issue 7 in 2009 sought a $10 local minimum but failed at the ballot. Subsequent state legislation reinforced the preemption. Cincinnati can require living wages on city contracts but cannot mandate higher wages broadly across private employers.
Employers paying below Ohio's $10.70 minimum face Ohio Department of Commerce enforcement, back-pay claims, civil damages, and possible criminal misdemeanor charges.
See how Cincinnati's minimum wage preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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