Thousands of Miami-Dade workers could drop from $22 an hour to $15 under new law

North of 20,000 workers contracted by the county — and thousands more contracted by local governments across Florida — might soon see their salaries slashed.

Read more Woman continues to heal from Biscayne Gardens dog attack, boyfriend says

Since 1999, Miami-Dade has required companies with county contracts exceeding $100,000 to pay their workers a “living wage” — a salary above minimum wage that reflects the actual cost of living in expensive metro areas like Miami. The idea was to make it easier for people to live where they work.

But two years ago, the Florida Legislature passed a law banning local governments from weighing in on their contractors’ wage schedules for all agreements signed after Sept. 30, 2026.

The change won’t hit paychecks overnight, but they would eventually be coming for thousands of food service, custodial, healthcare and security personnel, among others. Many workers on county service contracts and Miami International Airport concession agreements that were awarded before the deadline will keep the living wage for now.

Under the county’s living wage schedule for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, which begins Wednesday, most county contractors that already have agreements in place have to pay their workers at least $18.40 an hour if they provide health benefits, or $22.53 if they don’t.

READ MORE: Florida’s minimum wage just increased. Check the new rate and future raises

But the county’s 27-year-old wage floor will disappear gradually as existing contracts expire and the work is put back out to bid. On new contracts, the only legal pay floor will be the state minimum wage, which, as of Oct. 1, is $15 an hour.

A worker dropping from $22.53 to $15 would lose roughly a third of their pay — $15,662 a year, assuming they work full time.

Critics warn that the law will exacerbate a troubling affordability crisis in Miami-Dade, where more than half of county households are already living paycheck to paycheck.

A promise overruled

The Miami-Dade County Commission voted unanimously in 1999 to require certain county contractors and airport licensees to pay their workers a living wage.

Future increases were tied to inflation, and the ordinance applied to county service contracts worth more than $100,000 a year.

Read more Keys deputies, Coast Guard called to Everglades to break up fighting boaters

But in 2024, the Legislature passed HB 433, preempting that ordinance. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it in April of that year, but its provisions didn’t kick in until Wednesday. Though local governments can still set pay for their own employees, they can’t obligate their contractors to pay a salary above the state minimum wage.

The bill’s supporters argued the change would save taxpayers money and that businesses, not governments, should set wages. The Florida Chamber of Commerce argued the preemption would make it easier for small businesses to compete for public contracts and could lead to cheaper government agreements.

Among the Miami-Dade lawmakers who voted for the bill were former state Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, who’s currently running for lieutenant governor, and Reps. Fabian Basabe (District 106), Mike Redondo (District 118) and Juan Carlos Porras (District 119), all Miami-Dade Republicans seeking reelection this year.

Labor groups largely opposed the bill. “No one’s getting rich” on the living wage currently being paid out, said Helene O’Brien, Florida state director for 32BJ SEIU, a national union that represents property-related service workers, like custodians, security officers, doormen and maintenance staff.

O’Brien fears a “race to the bottom,” with contractors cutting worker pay as much as possible to ensure competitive prices. She warned that workplaces like Miami International Airport might no longer offer workers paths to upward economic mobility in the way they historically have.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava also opposed the bill. She asked DeSantis to veto it, warning of harm to the local economy, small businesses and residents’ wages.

“ … These bills will not only cut wages for thousands of working families in Miami-Dade, but will also infringe on our freedom as a community to ensure that our residents can make an honest living, pay their bills, get good jobs, and start successful, thriving businesses,” the mayor argued.

What comes next?

Workers on county contracts that have already been inked are safe for now. The measure only applies to agreements signed after Wednesday.

But in the long run, their above-minimum-wage floor isn’t guaranteed.

As it stands, even the county’s $22.53 living wage falls short of what researchers say it costs to live here. MIT’s Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult with no children in Miami-Dade needs $25.98 an hour to cover basic costs.

This story was produced with financial support from supporters including The Green Family Foundation Trust and Ken O’Keefe, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.

Read more After 5 years, this Spanish tapas restaurant and bar is closing on Miami Beach

This story was originally published September 30, 2026 at 12:22 PM.