The Workers Rights 
Florida’s new wage law, HB 433, could cut hourly pay by as much as $7 for nearly 20,000 workers, especially Miami-Dade County workers who earn above the state minimum wage under local living wage rules. The law doesn’t affect everyone at once, but as existing contracts run out, workers in cleaning, security and food services could see their paychecks shrink dramatically. Here’s what you need to know about the Florida workers’ pay cut, and what jobs are most at risk.
Quick Facts: HB 433 and the Florida Workers Pay Cut
| Detail | Info |
| Florida House Bill 433 (HB 433) was enacted | April 2024 |
| Effective | 2026 |
| Possible hourly wage decrease | Up to $7.53/hr. |
| Annual loss of earnings (40hr week) | Up to $15,662 a year |
| Workers at risk | ~20,000 in Florida |
| County hardest hit | Miami-Dade County |
| Miami-Dade living wage today | $22.53/hr |
| Florida state minimum wage | $15.00/hour |
| Existing contracts protected? | Yes – for the duration of the contract |
What Is HB 433 and Why Does It Matter?
House Bill 433, also known as “Employment Regulations,” is a state law that eliminates the ability of local governments to set their own minimum wage rates above Florida’s state minimum. Simply put, counties like Miami-Dade, Broward and Alachua had their own living wage ordinances requiring private companies and government contractors to pay workers more than the state minimum. HB 433 preempts those local rules.
This is a big win for Miami-Dade workers. The county’s living wage has risen to $22.53 an hour – well above the state minimum of $15. Once the law is fully in force and existing contracts expire, employers will no longer be legally bound to pay that higher rate. That’s a potential Florida workers pay cut of over $7 an hour.
Which Jobs Are Most at Risk Under HB 433?
The Florida wage law 2026 affects mostly workers on public contracts – i.e., government-funded jobs where local living wage ordinances applied. The most exposed sectors are:
- Janitorial / Cleaning Services
- Security & Building Protection
- Food service and prep workers
- Bus and truck drivers
- Certain healthcare support positions
These are often crucial, frontline jobs held by workers already struggling with the high cost of living in metro areas like Miami. Many of these workers are paid by the hour, not by salary, and thus don’t have the same bargaining power as salaried professionals.
How Much Could Miami-Dade Workers Lose?
Now let’s put the numbers in perspective.
| Scenario | Before HB 433 | After HB 433 (once contracts expire) |
| Hourly rate (Miami-Dade living wage) | $22.53 | $15.00 (state minimum) |
| Weekly pay (40 hrs) | $901.20 | $600.00 |
| Monthly pay | ~$3,904 | ~$2,600 |
| Annual pay | ~$46,709 | ~$31,200 |
| Annual loss | — | ~$15,662 |
For context, the MIT Living Wage Calculator projects that a single adult with no children in Florida would need to earn around $25.98 an hour in 2026 to cover basic expenses — which means even the Miami-Dade living wage of $22.53 was below what many experts would call a real living wage. After HB 433, the gap is even larger.
Are All Florida Workers Immediately Affected?
No, and that is an important nuance to the Florida HB 433 wage changes.
Contracts in place before September 30, 2026 will be protected. Workers under those contracts will continue to earn their current rates until the contract expires. But once a contract is renewed or rebid, the new contract will not need to include living wage provisions.
That means the Florida workers’ pay cut won’t happen overnight — but it will likely play out slowly over time as contracts go through their renewal cycles. It is estimated that up to 20,000 employees could see their wages cut to the state minimum over time.
The Debate: Supporters vs. Critics
Why supporters support HB 433: Supporters, including business groups in Florida, say the lack of uniformity in local wage laws creates a patchwork that makes it difficult, especially for small businesses, to compete for public contracts. They say standardizing wage rules at the state level saves taxpayer money and cuts costs.
Why the haters hate it: Labor advocates and local officials in affected counties say that a $15 state minimum doesn’t reflect the actual cost of living in high-cost cities like Miami. They say it strips an important protection for workers already stretched financially by stripping local governments of the ability to raise wages.
HB 433’s wage preemption is part of a national debate about whether states should determine a single wage floor or whether local governments should be allowed to raise it according to their cost of living.
FAQ: Florida Workers Pay Cut
Q: Does HB 433 cut the pay of all Florida workers?
No. Florida HB 433 wage cuts mainly impact workers on public contracts in counties such as Miami-Dade with local living wage ordinances. The majority of Florida workers who earn the state minimum wage of $15/hour are not directly affected.
Q: When do the changes to wages in HB 433 take effect?
HB 433 is already in effect but grandfathering of existing contracts signed before Sept. 30, 2026. We will only have pay cuts after those contracts are up and renewed without living wage requirements.
Q: What Florida counties will be most impacted by HB 433?
Miami-Dade, Broward and Alachua counties are among the hardest hit, as they had living wage ordinances above the state minimum that are now preempted by the new law.
Q: Does HB 433 allow Florida employers to cut worker pay now?
No. Employers must honor existing agreements. Florida wage preemption will apply to new and renewed contracts moving forward.
Q: What can workers do if affected?
Before their contract is renewed, workers should check their current employment contracts, know when they expire and consult a labor rights organization or legal adviser to learn their options.
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