Feeling hungry? Is it lunchtime? Here is a quick peek at how different states allot breaks according to lunch break laws by state based on data from the Department of Labor.
It is important to note that some states do not have laws about mandatory lunch breaks. Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Vermont do not have minimum required lunch breaks. Minors in the entertainment industry are entitled to a lunch break under Missouri law, however. Employers in Vermont must provide a “reasonable opportunity” to eat and use the restroom during a work shift.
14 and 15-year-olds who work at least 5 consecutive hours are entitled to at least a ½ hour lunch break
½ hour break for employees under 18 who work at least 5 consecutive hours without a break
Minors in the entertainment industry receive a 30 to 60-minute lunch break
½ hour for more than 5 hours per day, except for workdays completed in 6 hours or less
½ hour for more than 5 hours per day.
½ hour is granted for any employee working 7½ consecutive hours. A break is to be taken after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours of the shift.
½ hour is granted for any employee working 7½ consecutive hours. A break is to be taken after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours of the shift.
Non-exempt employees under 18 who work at least 4 hours are given at least 30 minutes
14 and 15-year-olds who work at least 5 consecutive hours are entitled to at least a ½ hour lunch break
Minimum 30 minutes permitted for any employee working 7½ consecutive hours. Employees under 16 who work at least 5 hours are given 20 minutes A break must be taken within the first 5 hours of the start of the work shift.
Employees under 18 who work six or more hours are given 1-2 breaks that total 30 minutes
½ hour lunch break is given to employees sixteen and under who work at least five hours
Unpaid meal breaks of 30 minutes are allowed; breaks less than 20 minutes must be paid
Generally, ½ hour breaks are permitted for those under 18. Adult employees must be given a “reasonable period." Breaks should be taken between after the 3rd and before the 5th hours of the shift
Non-exempt employees over 18 who work at least five consecutive hours are provided a ½ hour unpaid break
30 minutes is permitted following 6 consecutive hours of work.
30 minutes is permitted for any shift of more than 6 consecutive hours.
30 minutes is permitted for any shift of more than 6 consecutive hours.
"Sufficient unpaid time " permitted for employees scheduled to work 8 consecutive hours.
½ hour is granted for any employee working an 8-hour shift
½ hour is granted for any employee working eight consecutive hours.
½ hour is granted for any shift of 5 consecutive hours.
One-hour noon-day period (factory-mandated ordinance). In other fields, 45 minutes are granted during the middle of the shift.
Employees under 16 who work five consecutive hours are granted a 30 minute break
½ hour is granted for any shift of 5 consecutive hours.
½ hour is granted for a 6-hour shift for employees. A break should be taken between the 2nd and 5th hours of the shift.
½ hour is granted to seasonal farm workers or minors under 18 for every five consecutive hours worked
20 minutes are granted for a six-hour shift. 30 minutes is permitted for any shift of 8 hours or more.
½ hour is granted for any shift of 6 hours or more.
½ hour break is granted to employees under 18 who have worked at least five hours
Employees under 16 years old who work five or more hours are granted a ½ hour break
½ hour is granted for any shift of 5 consecutive hours or more. Some professions have their own guidelines.
20 minutes are given to any employee working 6 hours or more.
Employees under 18 who work at least six hours are given a ½ hour
Yes, what your lunch break looks like and how long it is, will be determined by the state you live in and your employer. The good news is that every state has some guidelines, meaning at least our bosses won't let us starve at work. So go enjoy your lunch - and the quickest 30 minutes of your workday.
State | Lunch Break Duration | Lunch Break Covered Employees and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | At least 30 minutes | Covered: 14- and 15-year-old employees who work more than 5 consecutive hours |
| Alaska | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Those under 18 scheduled to work for 5 consecutive hours without a break |
| Arizona | N/A | N/A |
| Arkansas | 30 to 60 minutes | Covered: Minors in the entertainment industry, They also must have at least a 10-hour break between work days |
| California | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Non-exempt employees who work 5+ hours a day (break = 30 minutes). Covered: Non-exempt employees who work 10+ hours a day get a second 30-minute unpaid meal break. Note: This second break can be waived by mutual consent if the total hours worked are less than 12 hours and the 5-hour break was not waived. Note: Employees who work for 3.5 hours or more get one paid rest break of at least 10 uninterrupted minutes for every 4-hour period worked. Note: Farm workers and outdoor workers may have different guidelines. |
| Colorado | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees covered by Colorado’s Minimum Wage Order who work 5+ hours Note: Additionally, workers get a 10-minute paid rest break for every 4 hours worked |
| Connecticut | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Non-exempt employees who work at least 7.5 hours |
| Delaware | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees 18+ who work at least 7.5 hours and employees under 18 scheduled to work 5 hours |
| District of Columbia | N/A | N/A |
| Florida | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Non-exempt employees under 18 who work at least 4 hours |
| Georgia | N/A | N/A |
| Hawaii | At least 30 minutes | Covered: 14- and 15-year-old employees who work 5 consecutive hours |
| Idaho | N/A | N/A |
| Illinois | Varies by age | Covered: Employees who work 7.5 hours or longer (30 minutes) and employees under 16 who work 5+ hours (20 minutes) |
| Indiana | 1-2 breaks totaling 30 minutes | Covered: Employees under 18 who work 6+ hours |
| Iowa | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees under 16 who work 5+ hours |
| Kansas | At least 30 minutes if unpaid | Note: Meal breaks lasting less than 30 minutes are taken on the clock. |
| Kentucky | Varies by age | Covered: Minors who work 4+ hours (30 minutes.) and non-exempt employees 18+ who work 5+ hours (a "reasonable period") |
| Louisiana | At least 30 minutes unpaid | Covered: Non-exempt employees under 18 who work 5 consecutive hours |
| Maine | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees who work 6+ hours |
| Maryland | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Certain retail employees who work 6+ hours a day (30-minute) and non-exempt employees under 18 who work 5 consecutive hours (30 minutes minimum). Note: Employees working 8+ hours also earn paid 15-minute breaks for every 4 hours. |
| Massachusetts | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Non-exempt employees who work 6+ hours |
| Michigan | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees under 18 who work 5+ hours |
| Minnesota | Undefined, but required | Covered: Employees who work 8+ hours Note: Employees who work 8+ hours must be given a break long enough to eat a meal. Employees working 4+ hours must get a break long enough to use the restroom. |
| Mississippi | N/A | N/A |
| Missouri | N/A | Covered: Minors in the entertainment industry appear to be the only covered class Note: Meal break after 5.5 hours of work plus a 15-minute rest break for every 2 hours of work |
| Montana | N/A | N/A |
| Nebraska | At least 30 minutes per 8-hour shift | Covered: Employees of an assembling plant, workshop or mechanical establishment |
| Nevada | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees working 8+ hours Note: Employees who work 3.5+ hours earn a break of 10 consecutive minutes every 4 hours |
| New Hampshire | At least 30 minutes | Employees who work 5+ hours |
| New Jersey | At least 30 minutes | Employees under 18 who work 5+ hours |
| New Mexico | N/A | Note: Employees are not entitled to meal or rest breaks. However, in cases in which breaks are given, those lasting fewer than 20 minutes must be paid. Employees can be required to clock out for breaks lasting 30 minutes or longer. |
| New York | At least 30-60 minutes (profession-dependent) | Covered: Factory employees are allowed at least 60 minutes. Those engaged in other occupations are allowed at least 30 minutes. Note: Workers whose shifts last more than 6 hours are entitled to at least 30 minutes off during that time. Note: Workers whose shifts start before 11am and continue past 7pm earn an additional meal period of at least 20 minutes between 5pm and 7pm. Note: Workers on shifts lasting 6+ hours and starting between the hours of 1pm and 6am get a meal period of at least 60 minutes (factory workers) or 45 minutes (other professions). |
| North Carolina | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees under 16 who work shifts of 5+ hours |
| North Dakota | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees who work 5+ hours |
| Ohio | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees under 18 for every 5 hours worked |
| Oklahoma | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees under 16 who work 5+ hours |
| Oregon | At least 30 minutes (clocked out) or 20-30 minutes (clocked in) | Covered: Employees who have worked for 6+ hours Note: Employees also earn a break of 10 (adult) or 15 (under 18) minutes for each 4 hours worked. |
| Pennsylvania | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Seasonal farm workers for every 5 hours worked Covered: Minors under 18 for every 5 hours worked |
| Rhode Island | At least 20-30 minutes | Covered: Employees who work 6+ hours Note: Break length is at least 20 minutes for 6-hour shifts and 30 minutes for shifts lasting 8+ hours. |
| South Carolina | N/A | N/A |
| South Dakota | N/A | N/A |
| Tennessee | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees who work 6+ hours |
| Texas | N/A | N/A |
| Utah | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees under 18 for every 5 hours worked Note: Employees under 18 also earn a 10-minute break for every 3 hours or part thereof worked |
| Vermont | N/A | Employers must provide a “reasonable opportunity” to eat and use the restroom. This opportunity must be paid if it is less than 30 minutes |
| Virginia | At least 30 minutes | Employees under 16 who work 5+ hours |
| Washington | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees whose shifts last 5+ hours. Some professions, such as agricultural and construction workers, and workers under the age of 18 may have additional guidelines. Note: Workers on shifts 3+ hours longer than their regular workday earn a second 30-minute meal break. Note: Workers also earn a paid rest break of at least 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked. |
| West Virginia | At least 20 minutes | Employees who work 6+ hours get a meal break |
| Wisconsin | At least 30 minutes | Covered: Employees under 18 working 6+ hours |
| Wyoming | N/A | N/A |