State Labor Laws Guide

Minimum wage laws establish the lowest hourly rate an employer can legally pay their workers. While the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour, many states have enacted higher minimum wages, with some implementing annual adjustments based on inflation.

Currently, 29 states have minimum wages above the federal level, with rates ranging from $8.75 to $16.28 per hour. Some states like California, New York, and Washington have implemented tiered systems based on employer size or geographic location.

States with no minimum wage law or rates below the federal minimum must follow the federal standard of $7.25 for most employers. Understanding your state's specific requirements is essential for compliance.

Federal law requires overtime pay at 1.5 times an employee's regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. However, several states have implemented additional overtime protections that exceed federal standards.

California, Colorado, Nevada, and Alaska have daily overtime requirements, mandating overtime pay for hours worked beyond 8 or 12 in a single day, regardless of the weekly total. California even requires double-time pay for hours worked beyond 12 in a day.

Some states also have industry-specific overtime rules for sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, or seasonal businesses. Employers must comply with whichever law—federal or state—provides greater benefits to employees.

Federal law does not require employers to provide meal or rest breaks. However, 13 states have enacted laws mandating meal breaks, typically 30 minutes unpaid for shifts exceeding 5-6 hours.

States like California, Colorado, Kentucky, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington also require paid rest breaks, typically 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked. These breaks must be provided in addition to meal periods.

When breaks are provided, federal law requires short breaks (usually 20 minutes or less) to be paid, while longer meal periods (typically 30 minutes or more) can be unpaid if employees are completely relieved of duties.

While federal law does not mandate paid sick leave or family leave, many states have enacted their own requirements. Currently, 11 states require employers to provide paid sick leave, typically accrued at a rate of 1 hour for every 30-40 hours worked.

Paid family leave programs exist in 10 states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. These programs typically provide partial wage replacement for employees who need time off to care for a new child or ill family member.

Even in states without paid leave laws, employers must comply with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave annually.