Enter to open, tab to navigate, enter to select
Minimum Wage
Practical Law Glossary Item 9-506-9527 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Minimum Wage
The minimum hourly wage nonexempt employees must be paid under federal, state, or local wage and hour laws. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes federal minimum wage requirements. For the current federal minimum wage, see the Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor.
State and local minimum hourly wages vary and may be higher than the federal minimum wage. For more information, see State Minimum Wage Chart: Overview and Wage and Hour Laws: State Q&A Tool. Employers must pay the higher of any applicable federal, state, or local minimum wage.
Special minimum wage requirements may apply to certain types of workers, including:
- Tipped employees.
- Employees under a certain age (often age 20) during an initial period of employment.
- Employees whose productivity is limited by physical or mental impairments.
Minimum wage requirements generally do not apply to exempt employees or to nonemployees (such as independent contractors).
For more information, see Practice Note, Wage and Hour Law: Overview.