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Labor Laws by State 2024
State minimum wage regulations are pivotal in ensuring equitable compensation for workers nationwide. While the federal minimum wage serves as a baseline, individual states have implemented their own guidelines tailored to their unique economic landscapes and labor needs. These regulations encompass various facets of employment, including hourly rates, overtime provisions, and policies on paid leave.
At the heart of state labor legislation lie the regulations governing minimum wage standards. Crafted and enforced primarily at the state level, these laws undergo continual refinement by state legislatures or designated labor departments. This decentralized approach allows for nuanced adjustments that cater to the specific needs and conditions of each state's workforce.
Some states stand out for their robust minimum wage laws, ensuring fair compensation and additional benefits for workers. For instance, Washington and California boast some of the highest minimum wage rates in the country, accompanied by provisions for paid leave and other worker protections. Conversely, states such as Georgia and Idaho have lower minimum wage rates, highlighting disparities in wage standards across different regions.
- States with no minimum wage displayed have no state minimum wage law and follow the Federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
State | Minimum Wage | Min Wage Notes | Represented By Unions (%) | Mandatory Paid Sick Leave | Annual Paid Sick Leave | Vacation Pay Taxable Wages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $15.74 | 19.1 | Yes | 7 days (100+ employees), 5 days (25-99 employees), 3 days (1-24 employees) | Not addressed by law | |
| California | $15.50 | 17.6 | Yes | 24 hours or 3 days per year | Vacation time is earned as work is performed and is considered wages . | |
| Massachusetts | $15 | 13.8 | Yes | Up to 40 hours per year | Paid vacation time is considered wages Employers must compensate employees for earned vacation time | |
| New York | $14.20 | $15.00 in Long Island, Westchester, & NYC | 22.1 | Yes | 56 hours (100+ employees), 40 hours (5–99 employees), Up to 40 hours (4 or fewer employees and net income > $1 million, Unpaid (4 or fewer employees and net income up to $1 million. | Not addressed by law |
| New Jersey | $14.13 | $12.93 for seasonal or < 6 employees | 16 | Yes | Up to 40 hours per year | Not addressed by law |
| Connecticut | $14 | 16.3 | Yes | Max 40 hours carry/use per year | "Wages" do not include vacation time | |
| Arizona | $13.85 | 6.2 | Yes | 40 hours (15+ employees), 24 hours (1-14 employees) | Not addressed by law | |
| Maine | $13.80 | 11.5 | Yes | Up to 40 hours per year | Paid vacation time will be treated as wages if the employee is entitled to the vacation pay | |
| Colorado | $13.65 | 7.5 | Yes | Up to 48 hours per year, 48 hours can be carried over each year | Vacation pay policy may be established in writing or by custom and practice | |
| Oregon | $13.50 | 16.9 | Yes | Up to 40 hours per year | Paid vacation is considered wages | |
| Maryland | $13.25 | 13.2 | Yes | Up to 40 hours per year | Not addressed by law | |
| Vermont | $13.18 | 13.4 | Yes | Up to 40 hours per year | Not addressed by law | |
| Illinois | $13 | 14.1 | No | "Final compensation" includes "the monetary equivalent of earned vacation" | ||
| Rhode Island | $13 | 17.7 | Yes | Up to 40 hours per year | Accrued vacation time is considered wages after one year of completed service | |
| Hawaii | $12 | 23.4 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Missouri | $12 | 10.6 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| New Mexico | $12 | 10.6 | Yes | 64 hours per 12-month period | Not addressed by law | |
| Virginia | $12 | 4.5 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Delaware | $11.75 | 9.4 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Arkansas | $11 | 5.7 | No | No state law | Not addressed by law | |
| Florida | $11 | 5.6 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Alaska | $10.85 | 17.2 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| South Dakota | $10.80 | 4.2 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Minnesota | $10.59 | $8.63 for small employers | 15.2 | Yes | Up to 48 hours carry/use per year | Paid time off or vacation pay is considered "wages" for wage payment purposes |
| Nebraska | $10.50 | 8.1 | No | Paid vacation is considered wages subject to the Nebraska Wage Payment and Collection | ||
| Nevada | $10.50 | $9.50 if business offers health insurance | 12.8 | Yes | Employer may limit to 40 hours | Not addressed by law |
| Michigan | $10.10 | 15.3 | Yes | Up to 40 hours per year | Vacation provided under a written contract or policy is considered a fringe benefit and not wages | |
| Ohio | $10.10 | $7.25 if business' gross receipts < $372,000 | 14 | No | Not addressed by law | |
| Montana | $9.95 | $4.00 for businesses w/ sales under $110,000 | 12.3 | No | Accrued and earned vacation time is similar to wages | |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | 10 | No | Wages include holiday and vacation pay | ||
| Georgia | $7.25 | 5.4 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Idaho | $7.25 | 5.9 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Indiana | $7.25 | 8.6 | No | Paid vacation is subject to the state's Wage Payment Statute | ||
| Iowa | $7.25 | 8.7 | No | Paid vacation benefits are considered "wages" | ||
| Kansas | $7.25 | 12.1 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Kentucky | $7.25 | 10.3 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Louisiana | $7.25 | 5.2 | No | To be paid for unused accrued vacation time, an employee must be eligible to accept the vacation at discharge or resignation | ||
| Mississippi | $7.25 | 7.2 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | 11.2 | No | Vacation pay and other fringe benefits are considered wages | ||
| North Carolina | $7.25 | 3.9 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| North Dakota | $7.25 | 7.6 | No | Paid time off is considered wages | ||
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | 7.1 | No | Vacation pay is considered wages under Oklahoma law | ||
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | 13.6 | No | Fringe benefits, such as vacation pay, are considered wages | ||
| Texas | $7.25 | 5.1 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Utah | $7.25 | 8.7 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | 8 | No | Wages include holiday and vacation pay | ||
| Wyoming | $7.25 | 7.3 | No | Not addressed by law | ||
| Alabama | - | Uses Federal min. wage | 8.4 | No | Not addressed by law | |
| South Carolina | - | Uses Federal min. wage | 2 | No | "Wages" includes vacation pay | |
| Tennessee | - | Uses Federal min. wage | 6.3 | No | Not addressed by law |