Frequently asked questions
What is the federal minimum wage in 2026?
The federal minimum wage under FLSA section 6(a)(1) is $7.25 per hour. It has been unchanged since 2009-07-24. State and local rates above $7.25 govern wherever they apply, under FLSA section 18(a).
Which state has the highest minimum wage?
The District of Columbia at $17.95 per hour is the highest standard rate, followed by Washington at $16.66 and California and New York City at $16.50. Among cities, Tukwila, Washington tops the list at $21.10.
How many states still pay $7.25?
Twenty states pay the federal $7.25 floor in 2026: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
What is a tipped minimum wage?
A tipped minimum wage is the cash wage an employer must pay a tipped employee directly; the rest of the minimum wage may be made up of tips under FLSA section 3(m). The federal cash wage is $2.13 with a $5.12 tip credit. Seven states ban the tip credit entirely.
Does my employer have to pay overtime?
FLSA requires non-exempt employees to receive 1.5x their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. California, Alaska, and Nevada add daily overtime for hours over 8 in a day. Exempt status depends on duties and salary level; the 2024 DOL rule raising the salary threshold remains in litigation.
Is my city allowed to set its own minimum wage?
It depends on the state. Twenty states preempt local minimum-wage ordinances by statute. The rest permit cities and counties to set higher rates, and many do: Seattle, Tukwila, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City all carry rates above their state floor.
How is a minimum wage indexed to inflation?
Indexing means an automatic annual adjustment by a price index, most commonly CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers) at the regional or national level. Each indexed-state statute specifies the index, the reference month, and rounding rules. CPI is published monthly by the BLS.
What is the youth or training minimum wage?
FLSA section 6(g) permits employers to pay $4.25 per hour to workers under 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days. Some states (Delaware, Utah, Wisconsin) set their own training-wage rules with higher floors or different age limits.
How do I file a wage complaint?
Contact the US DOL Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243 or your state labor department. Most complaints can be filed online or by phone. The federal statute of limitations is two years (three for willful violations) under FLSA section 16(b).