Minimum Wage (2024)

The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour.

Many states also have minimum wage laws. In cases where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages.

The federal minimum wage provisions are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA does not provide wage payment or collection procedures for an employee's usual or promised wages or commissions in excess of those required by the FLSA. However, some states do have laws under which such claims (sometimes including fringe benefits) may be filed.

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division administers and enforces the federal minimum wage law.

Webpages on this Topic

Minimum Wage Overview

History of Minimum Wage

State Minimum Wage Laws
A clickable map that tells you what the minimum wage laws are in each state.

Compliance Assistance: Minimum Wage

Questions and Answers About the Minimum Wage
Answers to questions ranging from "How often does the minimum wage increase?" to "Who ensures that workers are paid at least the minimum wage?"

What is the Minimum Wage?
Additional information about the minimum wage.

What is the Minimum Wage for Workers Who Receive Tips?
Additional information about the minimum wage.

Must Young Workers Be Paid the Minimum Wage?
Additional information about the minimum wage.

Information on the Youth Minimum Wage Program
A minimum wage of not less than $4.25 may be paid to employees under age 20 for their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment, as long as their employment does not displace other workers.

Fact Sheet on Hours Worked Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Provides general information concerning what constitutes compensable time under the FLSA.

Coverage Under the Fair Labor Standards Act Fact Sheet
General information about who is covered by the FLSA.

Equal Pay Act of 1963 (Public Law 88-38)
Equal pay provisions prohibit sex-based wage differentials between men and women employed in the same establishment who perform jobs requiring equal effort, skill, and responsibility. These provisions are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Laws on this Topic

29 USC Chapter 8, Section 206 – Minimum Wage Statutes

Minimum Wage (2024)

FAQs

Minimum Wage? ›

California Fast Food Wages-increase intro wrap

Plus, Reich said while the statewide minimum wage is $16 per hour, many of the state's larger cities have their own minimum wage laws setting the rate higher than that. For many fast food restaurants, this means the jump to $20 per hour will be smaller.

Is the minimum wage $16 an hour in California? ›

California Fast Food Wages-increase intro wrap

Plus, Reich said while the statewide minimum wage is $16 per hour, many of the state's larger cities have their own minimum wage laws setting the rate higher than that. For many fast food restaurants, this means the jump to $20 per hour will be smaller.

What is the US minimum wage in? ›

The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour.

Is the minimum wage going up to $20 an hour in California? ›

Half a million California workers will get $20 minimum wage, starting today It's a big win for cooks, cashiers and other fast-food employees, among the least paid in the workforce. Restaurant owners and franchisees warn of higher prices and cuts to workers' hours.

What is the LA minimum wage? ›

Wage Schedule Chart
Effective DateEmployers with 26 or more EmployeesEmployers with 25 or fewer Employees or Non-Profit Corporations with 26 or more Employees with approval to pay a deferred rate
7/1/2019$14.25$13.25
7/1/2020$15.00$14.25
Effective DateAll Employers
7/1/2021$15.00
6 more rows

Who gets $20 an hour in California? ›

The minimum wage law that took effect Monday guarantees at least $20-per-hour for workers at fast food restaurant chains with at least 60 locations nationwide.

Who gets $20 minimum wage in California? ›

AB-1228, passed last September, bumped up the minimum wage to $20 an hour for restaurant workers in certain establishments. According to the legislation, chain restaurants with "limited or no table service" and more than 60 franchises across the U.S. must adhere to the new law.

Is 15 an hour good? ›

“Most of us can't do the math in our heads. If we could, we'd realize that $15 an hour amounts to only $31,200 a year, assuming full-time work—about half of the U.S. median income and a painfully small amount for living and raising children in most American cities.” It can be painfully small outside of cities, too.

What state has the lowest minimum wage? ›

These states and territories have the lowest minimum wage rates in the U.S.:
  • Georgia: $5.15.
  • Wyoming: $5.15.
  • West Virginia: $8.75.
  • Minnesota: $8.85 (for small employers, or those with an annual gross revenue of less than $500,000)
  • Puerto Rico: $9.50.
Apr 15, 2024

Can you survive on minimum wage in USA? ›

Working for minimum wage does not give most people a living wage. Many states and cities have a higher minimum wage in place, more than double in some cases, but workers still struggle to make ends meet.

Does Starbucks pay $20 an hour? ›

The Seattle-based coffee giant increased already-inflated menu prices in its Golden State stores this week after the state's $20 minimum wage mandate for fast-food workers went into effect Monday, Business Insider reported. California baristas now start at $20.25 per hour with the potential to earn “comprehensive” ...

How much do you get paid at McDonald's in California? ›

As of Apr 17, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Mcdonalds Crew in California is $14.58 an hour.

Why is fast food 20 an hour? ›

The new rate applies to restaurant chains with more than 60 nationwide locations and is a result of a years-long fight by workers to establish better wages and working conditions, specifically in California's fast-food industry.

What is a livable wage in California? ›

Living Wage Calculation for California
1 ADULT2 ADULTS (BOTH WORKING)
0 Children2 Children
Living Wage$27.32$33.26
Poverty Wage$7.24$7.50
Minimum Wage$16.00$16.00

What is Florida's minimum wage? ›

Current Florida Minimum Wage Rates

The current Florida minimum wage is $12.00 per hour as of September 30, 2023. This is a $1.00 increase from the previous minimum wage of $11.00 per hour. The Florida minimum wage is scheduled to increase by $1.00 every year until it reaches $15.00 per hour in 2026.

Is $17 the minimum wage in California? ›

The minimum wage in California is $16 per hour for all employers, as of Jan. 1, 2024., according to the California Department of Industrial Relations. The previous minimum wage in 2023 was $15.50 per hour.

What is CA minimum wage 2024? ›

What is the minimum wage in California? Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum wage is $16.00 per hour for all employers. Some cities and counties have higher minimum wages than the state's rate. There is a list of City and County minimum wages in California maintained by UC Berkeley.

What is the minimum wage in California per hour? ›

The minimum wage in California, effective January 1, 2024, is $16.00/hour for all employers.

Can you make a living off of $16 an hour? ›

In most places, yes. It all really depends on cost of living. In Florida I'm scraping by off 14/hr, but in Los Angeles my brother is barely scraping by off 22/hr. You should also always watch your debt to income ratio.

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