What is the minimum wage in America? (2024 updated information)

We cover the issue of the American minimum wage and provide information about the minimum wage applied in the United States. What is the minimum wage in the USA? What is the minimum wage in the states of America? Here is the United States minimum wage review with all the details.

Before we get into the subject of what the minimum wage is in America, let us point out this. You can imagine that if the inflation rate in a country is high and the currency of a country is losing value, the minimum wage in that country changes very frequently. However, in countries with strong economies and valuable currencies, the minimum wage does not change very often.

We see that in countries like the USA, the minimum wage does not change very often. We now provide more detailed information about the minimum wage applied in the United States (USA) or (USA).

What is the minimum wage in America?

In the United States, the current minimum wage is $7,25 (USD) per hour. This hourly minimum wage was determined in 2019 and remains valid as of today, that is, as of March 2024. In America, workers receive a minimum wage of $7,25 per hour.

For example, a worker who works 8 hours a day will receive a wage of $58 a day. A worker who works 20 days a month will receive a wage of 1160 USD in a month.

To briefly recap, the federal minimum wage is $7,25 per hour. However, some states enforce their own minimum wage laws, and in some states the minimum wage differs from the federal minimum wage. Minimum wages by state in America are written in the rest of the article.

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

Federal minimum wage provisions are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA does not provide compensation or collection procedures for an employee's regular or promised wages or commissions in excess of what the FLSA requires. However, some states have laws under which such claims (sometimes including fringe benefits) can be made.

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

Federal minimum wage provisions are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The federal minimum wage is $24 per hour as of July 2009, 7,25. Many states also have minimum wage laws. Some state laws provide greater protection to employees; employers must comply with both.

The FLSA does not provide wage collection procedures for an employee's regular or promised wages or commissions in excess of what the FLSA requires. However, some states have laws under which such claims (sometimes including fringe benefits) can be made.

What is the US federal minimum wage?

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $24 per hour as of July 2009, 7,25. Many states also have minimum wage laws. If an employee is subject to both state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher minimum wage rate.

Various minimum wage exemptions apply under certain circumstances to employees with disabilities, full-time students, youth under age 90 during their first 20 consecutive calendar days of employment, tipped employees, and student students.

What is the minimum wage of tipped workers in America?

An employer may pay a tipped employee no less than $2,13 per hour in direct wages if that amount plus tips received is at least equal to the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips, and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 in tips per month. . If an employee's tips do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage when combined with the employer's direct wage of at least $2,13 per hour, the employer must make up the difference.

Some states have specific minimum wage laws for tipped employees. When an employee is subject to both federal and state wage laws, the employee is entitled to the more beneficial provisions of each law.

Should young workers be paid minimum wage?

A minimum wage of $90 per hour applies to youth workers under the age of 20 for the first 4,25 consecutive calendar days they work for an employer, unless their work displaces other workers. After 90 consecutive days of employment or after the employee reaches age 20, whichever comes first, he or she must receive the minimum wage of $24 per hour, effective July 2009, 7,25.

Other programs that allow payment of less than the full federal minimum wage apply to disabled workers, full-time students, and student-students employed pursuant to subminimum wage certifications. These programs are not limited to the employment of young workers.

What minimum wage exemptions apply in America for full-time students?

The Full-Time Student Program is for full-time students working in retail or service stores, agriculture, or at colleges and universities. The employer who employs students can obtain a certificate from the Ministry of Labor that allows the student to be paid not less than 85% of the minimum wage. 

The certificate also limits the hours a student can work to 8 hours per day, a maximum of 20 hours per week when school is in session, or 40 hours per week when school is closed, and requires the employer to comply with all child labor laws. When students graduate or leave school altogether, they must be paid $24 per hour, effective July 2009, 7,25.

How often does the federal minimum wage increase in America?

The minimum wage does not increase automatically. In order to increase the minimum wage, Congress must pass a bill that the President will sign.

Who ensures that workers are paid minimum wage in the USA?

The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is responsible for enforcing the minimum wage. The Wage and Hour Division works to ensure that workers are paid the minimum wage, using both enforcement and public education efforts.

To whom does the minimum wage apply in America?

The minimum wage law (FLSA) applies to employees of businesses with annual gross sales or turnover of at least $500.000. It also applies to employees of smaller firms if the employees are engaged in interstate commerce or the production of goods for commercial purposes, such as employees who work in the transportation or communications industry or regularly use the mail or telephone for interstate communications. 

Other individuals, such as security guards, janitors, and maintenance workers, who perform duties closely related to and directly required by such interstate activities are also covered by the FLSA. This also applies to employees of federal, state, or local government agencies, hospitals, and schools, and often applies to domestic workers as well.

The FLSA contains a number of exemptions to the minimum wage that may apply to some workers.

What if state law requires a higher minimum wage than federal law?

In cases where state law requires a higher minimum wage, this higher standard applies.

How many hours does a week work in America?

In the United States, the working week is 40 hours. Employers must pay overtime wages to workers for work exceeding 40 hours.

More than 143 million American workers are protected or covered by the FLSA, enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards that affect full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and Federal, State, and local governments. The FLSA requires that all covered and non-exempt employees be paid the Federal minimum wage. Overtime pay of not less than one and a half times the regular wage must be paid for all hours worked by over 40 years of age in a workweek.

How much is the youth minimum wage in America?

The youth minimum wage is authorized by FLSA Section 1996(g), as amended by the 6 FLSA Amendments. The law requires employers to hire employees under the age of 20 for a limited period of time (workdays) after they are first hired. not , 90 calendar days) allows for lower rates. During this 90-day period, eligible workers may be paid any wage over $4,25 per hour.

Who can pay minimum wage to young people?

Only employees under the age of 20 can be paid the youth minimum wage, and only during the first 90 consecutive calendar days after they are first hired by their employer.

What was the minimum wage in America in previous years?

In 1990, Congress enacted legislation requiring the enactment of regulations providing special overtime exemptions for certain highly skilled professionals in the computer field who earn not less than 6 and a half times the applicable minimum wage.

The 1996 changes increased the minimum wage to $1 per hour on October 1996, 4,75, and to $1 per hour on September 1997, 5,15. The changes also set the youth minimum wage at $20 per hour for newly hired employees under the age of 4,25. The first 90 calendar days after being hired by their employer; revises tip credit provisions to allow employers to pay qualified tipped employees not less than $2,13 per hour if they receive the remainder of the statutory minimum wage in tips; sets the qualified hourly wage test for computer-related professional workers at $27,63 per hour.

Amended the Portal to Portal Act to allow employers and employees to agree on the use of employer-provided vehicles for commuting to and from work at the beginning and end of the workday.

The 2007 amendments increased the minimum wage to $24 per hour effective July 2007, 5,85; $24 per hour starting July 2008, 6,55; and $24 per hour, effective July 2009, 7,25. A separate provision of the bill introduces gradual increases in minimum wages in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

The Federal minimum wage for work performed before July 24, 2007 is $5,15 per hour.
The Federal minimum wage for work performed from July 24, 2007 through July 23, 2008 is $5,85 per hour.
The Federal minimum wage for work performed from July 24, 2008 through July 23, 2009 is $6,55 per hour.
The Federal minimum wage for work performed on or after July 24, 2009 is $7,25 per hour.

Generally speaking, jobs that require high levels of education and skills earn higher wages than jobs that require less skills and little education. Statistics from the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) confirm this perspective, revealing that the unemployment rate among people with vocational degrees is significantly lower than among people with a high school diploma or those who have not completed high school education. In addition, as the education level of the worker increases, his earnings increase significantly.

What is the minimum wage by state in America?

Alabama minimum wage

The state has no minimum wage law.

Employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act are required to pay the current Federal minimum wage of $7,25 per hour.

Alaska minimum wage

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $11,73

Premium Payment After Specified Hours 1: Daily – 8, Weekly – 40

Under the voluntary flexible working hours plan approved by the Alaska Department of Labor, 10 hours a day and 10 hours a week with premium payment can be initiated after 40 hours a day.

The daily or weekly premium overtime pay requirement does not apply to employers with fewer than 4 employees.

The minimum wage is adjusted every year according to a specific formula.

Arizona

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $14,35

California minimum wage

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $16,00

Work performed in excess of eight hours in a workday, in excess of 40 hours in a workweek, or within the first eight hours of work on the seventh day of work in any workweek is calculated at a rate of one and a half times the wage. regular wage rate. Any work exceeding 12 hours in any one day or eight hours on any seventh day of a workweek will be paid at not less than twice the regular rate. California Labor Code section 510. Exceptions apply for an employee working pursuant to an alternative workweek accepted under applicable Labor Code sections and for time spent commuting to work. (See Labor Code article 510 for exceptions).

The minimum wage will be adjusted every year according to a certain formula.

Colorado minimum wage

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $14,42

Premium Payment After Specified Hours 1: Daily – 12, Weekly – 40

Florida minimum wage

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $12,00

The minimum wage is adjusted every year according to a specific formula. The Florida minimum wage is scheduled to increase by $30 every September 2026th until it reaches $15,00 on September 30, 1,00.

Hawaii minimum wage

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $14,00

Premium Payment After Specified Hours 1: Weekly – 40

An employee who receives guaranteed compensation of $2.000 or more per month is exempt from the State minimum wage and overtime law.

Domestic service workers are subject to Hawaii's minimum wage and overtime requirements. Bill 248, Regular Session 2013.

State law excludes any employment subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act unless the State wage rate is greater than the federal rate.

Kentucky minimum wage

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $7,25

Premium Payment After Specified Hours 1: Weekly – 40, 7th Day

The 7th day overtime law, which is separate from the minimum wage law, requires employers that allow covered employees to work seven days in any workweek to pay the employee half the hours worked on the seventh day. employees work seven days a week. The 40th day overtime law does not apply when the employee is not allowed to work more than 7 hours in total during the week.

If the federal rate is higher than the State rate, the State adopts the federal minimum wage rate as a reference.

Mississippi minimum wage

The state has no minimum wage law.

Employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act are required to pay the current Federal minimum wage of $7,25 per hour.

Montana minimum wage

Businesses with annual gross sales of more than $110.000

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $10,30

Premium Payment After Specified Hours 1: Weekly – 40

Businesses with annual gross sales of $110.000 or less that are not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $4,00

Premium Payment After Specified Hours 1: Weekly – 40

A business that is not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and has annual gross sales of $110.000 or less may pay $4,00 per hour. However, if an individual employee produces or transports goods between states or is covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, that employee must be paid the federal minimum wage or the Montana minimum wage, whichever is higher.

New York minimum wage

Base Minimum Wage (hourly): $15,00; $16,00 (New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County)

Premium Payment After Specified Hours 1: Weekly – 40

The New York minimum wage is equal to the federal minimum wage when set below the federal rate.

Under the new accommodation regulations, live-in employees (“live-in workers”) are now entitled to receive overtime for hours worked in excess of 44 hours in the payroll week, instead of the previous 40-hour requirement. Therefore, overtime hours for all non-exempt workers are now hours worked over 40 hours in the payroll week.

Employers who operate factories, commercial establishments, hotels, restaurants, freight/passenger elevators or theaters; or in a building where security guards, cleaners, supervisors, managers, engineers or firefighters work, 24 consecutive hours of rest must be provided each week. Domestic workers have the right to 24 hours of uninterrupted rest a week and receive premium payments if they work during this period.

Oklahoma minimum wage

Employers with ten or more full-time employees at any location, or employers with annual gross sales over $100.000, regardless of the number of full-time employees.

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $7,25

All other employers

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $2,00

Oklahoma state minimum wage law does not include current minimum dollar amounts. Instead, the state adopts the federal minimum wage rate as a reference.

Puerto Rico minimum wage

It applies to all employees covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), except agricultural and municipal employees and employees of the State of Puerto Rico.

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $9,50

The minimum wage will increase to $1 per hour on July 2024, 10,50, unless the Federal Government issues an executive order changing the amount

Washington minimum wage

Basic Minimum Wage (hourly): $16,28

Premium Payment After Specified Hours 1: Weekly – 40

Bonus payment is not available to employees who request compensatory leave in lieu of bonus pay.

The minimum wage is adjusted every year according to a specific formula.

Source: https://www.dol.gov