What is the current minimum wage in my state? What is the federal minimum wage law? Do some cities have their own minimum wage levels? What does minimum wage really mean? All these are common questions about minimum wage laws that we will help you answer.
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act sets a current minimum wage that most employees legally must be paid. Presently, the federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. The federal minimum wage has been at this rate since 1997. Additionally, a number of states have set their current minimum wages higher than the federal minimum wage. If your state's minimum wage is greater than the federal minimum wage, you are subject to that law, which will be enforced by your state's Department of Labor. The federal minimum wage law is enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.
The federal minimum wage law applies to all employees of companies with $500,000 or more in yearly sales. Currently, it is estimated about 10 percent of workers receive the U.S. federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage law may also apply to some smaller companies that are engaged in interstate commerce or produce goods for commerce. There are also a number of specific exemptions to the federal minimum wage law, such as the youth sub-minimum wage law that permits teenagers to earn lower wages for their first 90 days at a job. You can find more specifics on the federal minimum wage law at the Department of Labor's website.
Below is a compiled list of the current minimum wage for each state, for jobs covered by federal minimum wage laws. Some jobs that earn tips are often subject to a lower current minimum wage. In addition, some counties and/or cities within certain states may observe a higher current minimum wage than the rest of the state. Presently, the state of Washington has the highest current minimum wage.
Sometimes this higher current minimum wage will apply only to businesses that are under contract to the local government, while in other cases the higher current minimum wage will be enforced across all businesses. There may be additional rules or exemptions by state. You can get more details at the Department of Labor or you can visit the specific state labor department websites.
|
Arizona Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
ARIZONA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
Current Minimum Wage |
|
$6.75 |
Mininum Wage Increase |
NA |
NA |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arkansas Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
ARKANSAS |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
Current Minimum Wage |
|
$6.25 |
Mininum Wage Increase |
NA |
NA |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
California Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
CALIFORNIA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
Current Minimum Wage |
|
$7.50 |
Mininum Wage Increase |
1/1/2008 |
$8.00 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colorado Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
COLORADO |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.85 |
| |
|
|
Minimum wage rate and overtime provisions applicable to retail and service, commercial support service, food and beverage, and health and medical industries. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Connecticut Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
CONNECTICUT |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$7.65 |
| |
|
|
In restaurants and hotel restaurants, for the 7th consecutive day of work, premium pay is required at time and one half the minimum rate. |
| |
|
|
The Connecticut minimum wage rate automatically increases to 1/2 of 1 percent above the rate set in the Fair Labor Standards Act if the Federal minimum wage rate equals or becomes higher than the State minimum. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Delaware Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
DELAWARE |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.65 |
| |
1/1/2008 |
$7.15 |
| |
|
|
The Delaware minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
District of Columbia Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$7.00 |
| |
|
|
In the District of Columbia, the rate is automatically set at $1 above the Federal minimum wage rate if the District of Columbia rate is lower. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Florida Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
FLORIDA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.67 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Georgia Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
GEORGIA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
(Applicable to employers of 6 or more employees) |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act when the Federal rate is greater than the State rate. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guam Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
GUAM |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.15 |
| |
7/1/2007 |
$5.75 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hawaii Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
HAWAII |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$7.25 |
| |
|
|
An employee earning a guaranteed monthly compensation of $2,000 or more is exempt from the State minimum wage and overtime law. |
| |
|
|
The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act unless the State wage rate is higher than the Federal. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Idaho Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
IDAHO |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Illinois Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
ILLINOIS |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
(Applicable to employers of 4 or more employees, excluding family members) |
|
$6.50 |
| |
7/1/2007 |
$7.50 |
| |
7/1/2008 |
$7.75 |
| |
7/1/2009 |
$8.00 |
| |
7/1/2010 |
$8.25 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Indiana Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
INDIANA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
| |
(Applicable to employers of 2 or more employees) |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Iowa Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
IOWA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.20 |
| |
|
|
The Iowa minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kansas Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
KANSAS |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$2.65 |
| |
|
|
The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kentucky Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
KENTUCKY |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
The 7th day overtime law, which is separate from the minimum wage law differs in coverage from that in the minimum wage law and requires premium pay on the seventh day for those employees who work seven days in any one workweek. |
| |
|
|
The Kentucky state minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums. Instead the state adopts the Federal minimum wage rate by reference. |
| |
|
|
Compensating time in lieu of overtime is allowed upon written request by an employee of any county, charter county, consolidated local government, or urban-county government, including an employee of a county-elected official. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louisiana Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
LOUISIANA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
There is no state minimum wage law. |
|
N/A |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maine Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
MAINE |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.75 |
| |
10/1/2007 |
$7.00 |
| |
|
|
The Maine minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum with the exception that any such increase is limited to no more than $1.00 per hour above the current legislated State rate. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maryland Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
MARYLAND |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.15 |
| |
|
|
The Maryland minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum wage rate. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Massachusetts Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
MASSACHUSETTS |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$7.50 |
| |
|
|
The Massachusetts minimum wage rate automatically increases to 10 cents above the rate set in the Fair Labor Standards Act if the Federal minimum wage equals or becomes higher than the State minimum. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michigan Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
MICHIGAN |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.95 |
| |
7/1/2007 |
$7.15 |
(Applicable to employers of 2 or more employees) |
7/1/2008 |
$7.40 |
| |
|
|
The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act unless the State wage rate is higher than the Federal. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minnesota Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
MINNESOTA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
Large employer (enterprise with annual receipts of $625,000 or more) |
|
$6.15 |
Small employer (enterprise with annual receipts of less than $625,000) |
|
$5.25 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mississippi Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
MISSISSIPPI |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
No state minimum wage law. |
|
N/A |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Missouri Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
MISSOURI |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.50 |
| |
|
|
In addition to the exemption for federally covered employment, the law exempts, among others, employees of a retail or service business with gross annual sales or business done of less than $500,000. |
| |
|
|
Premium pay required after 52 hours in seasonal amusement or recreation businesses. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Montana Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
MONTANA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
State Law |
|
$6.15 |
| |
|
|
Except businesses with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less |
|
$4.00 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nebraska Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
NEBRASKA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
(Applicable to employers of 4 or more employees) |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nevada Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
NEVADA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.15 |
| |
|
|
The premium overtime pay requirement on either a daily or weekly basis is not applicable to employees who are compensated at not less than one and one-half times the minimum rate or to employees of enterprises having a gross annual sales volume of less than $250,000. |
| |
|
|
Employers may pay a rate of $5.15 per hour if they provide a recognized health care plan to the employees. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Hampshire Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
NEW HAMPSHIRE |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
The New Hampshire minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Jersey Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
NEW JERSEY |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$7.15 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Mexico Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
NEW MEXICO |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
NEW YORK |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$7.15 |
| |
|
|
The New York minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
North Carolina Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
NORTH CAROLINA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.15 |
| |
|
|
Premium pay is required after 45 hours a week in seasonal amusements or recreational establishments. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
North Dakota Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
NORTH DAKOTA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ohio Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
OHIO |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
State Law |
|
$6.85 |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oklahoma Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
OKLAHOMA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
Employers of ten or more full time employees at any one location and employers with annual gross sales over $100,000 irrespective of number of full time employees. |
|
$5.15 |
All other employers. |
|
$2.00 |
| |
|
|
The Oklahoma state minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums. Instead the state adopts the Federal minimum wage rate by reference. |
| |
|
|
The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oregon Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
OREGON |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$7.80 |
| |
|
|
Premium pay required after 10 hours a day in nonfarm canneries, driers, or packing plants and in mills, factories or manufacturing establishments (excluding sawmills, planning mills, shingle mills, and logging camps). |
| |
|
|
Beginning January 1, 2004, and annually thereafter, the rate will be adjusted for inflation by a calculation using the U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for All Items. The wage amount established will be rounded to the nearest five cents. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
PENNSYLVANIA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.25 |
| |
7/1/2007 |
$7.15 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Puerto Rico Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
PUERTO RICO |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$3.61 to $5.15 |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Employers covered by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are subject only to the Federal minimum wage and all applicable regulations. Employers not covered by the FLSA will be subject to a minimum wage that is at least 70 percent of the Federal minimum wage or the applicable mandatory decree rate, whichever is higher. The Secretary of Labor and Human Resources may authorize a rate based on a lower percentage for any employer who can show that implementation of the 70 percent rate would substantially curtail employment in that business. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rhode Island Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
RHODE ISLAND |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$7.40 |
| |
|
|
Time and one-half premium pay for work on Sundays and holidays in retail and certain other businesses is required under two laws that are separate from the minimum wage law. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
South Carolina Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
SOUTH CAROLINA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
No state minimum wage law. |
|
N/A |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
South Dakota Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
SOUTH DAKOTA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tennessee Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
TENNESSEE |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
No state minimum wage law. |
|
N/A |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Texas Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
TEXAS |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. |
| |
|
|
The Texas State minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums. Instead the State adopts the Federal minimum wage rate by reference. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utah Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
UTAH |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
The Utah state minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums. Instead the state law authorizes the adoption of the Federal minimum wage rate via administrative action. |
| |
|
|
The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vermont Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
VERMONT |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
(Applicable to employers of two or more employees) |
|
$7.53 |
| |
|
|
The State overtime pay provision has very limited application because it exempts numerous types of establishments, such as retail and service; seasonal amusement/recreation; hotels, motels, restaurants; and transportation employees to whom the Federal (FLSA) overtime provision does not apply. |
| |
|
|
The Vermont minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum. |
| |
|
|
Beginning January 1, 2007, and on each subsequent January 1, the minimum wage rate shall be increased by five percent or the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index, or city average, not seasonally adjusted. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virginia Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
VIRGINIA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
(Applicable to employers of 4 or more employees) |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
The Virginia state minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums. Instead the state adopts the Federal minimum wage rate by reference. |
| |
|
|
The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virgin Islands Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
VIRGIN ISLANDS |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
State law |
|
$6.15 |
| |
|
|
Except businesses with gross annual receipts of less than $150,000. |
|
$4.30 |
| |
|
|
In practice, the Virgin Islands adopts the Federal $5.15 per hour rate. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Washington Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
WASHINGTON |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$7.93 |
| |
|
|
Premium pay not applicable to employees who request compensating time off in lieu of premium pay. |
| |
|
|
Beginning January 1, 2001, and annually thereafter, the rate will be adjusted for inflation by a calculation using the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the prior year. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
West Virginia Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
WEST VIRGINIA |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.85 |
(Limited employee coverage) |
|
|
| |
7/1/2007 |
$6.55 |
(Employers with 6 or more employees who |
7/1/2008 |
$7.25 |
are not covered by the Federal minimum |
|
|
wage and all state agencies) |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wisconsin Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
WISCONSIN |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$6.50 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wyoming Minimum Wage Rates |
|
|
WYOMING |
Future Effective Date |
Basic Minimum Rate
(per hour) |
| |
|
$5.15 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Privacy Notice: PayScale takes your privacy seriously and is sensitive to the nature of information collected on this site.