What is the federal minimum wage?

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007; $6.55 per hour effective July 24, 2008; and $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. Many states also have minimum wage laws. Where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher minimum wage rate. Various minimum wage exceptions apply under specific circumstances to workers with disabilities, full-time students, youth under age 20 in their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment, tipped employees and student-learners. What is the minimum wage for workers who receive tips? An employer may pay a tipped employee not less than $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount plus the tips received equal at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips.  more

The current federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. A proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $6.15 was defeated by the United States Senate in September of 1998.  more

The federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. In states where both state and federal minimum wage laws apply, the employee is entitled to the higher wage of the two. See StateOvertimeLaw.us for a review of states’ laws.  more

• What is the federal minimum wage for full-time students and for student learners? • What is the federal minimum wage for workers younger than 20 years old in the first 90 days of employment? • What is the federal minimum wage for workers with disabilities? • What size businesses are covered by the law? • Which employees can be paid less than the minimum wage? • What is the penalty for an employer if he/she is found in violation of the law? 2. Go to the States' Guide and find your state. • What is the minimum wage in your state? Find one state that has a higher minimum wage and one that has a lower minimum wage than the federal standard. What are they? If there is a conflict between federal and state law, which wage applies? 3. Go to History of the Minimum Wage. • When was the current $500,000 annual earnings basis established? • When was the current minimum wage established? • Go to the minimum wage chart and find what the minimum wage was the year you were born. What was it the ...  more

The Employment Standards Administration Wage and Hour Division is responsible for handling wage and overtime issues and can answerquestions on wages and hours/overtime  more

A. The Federal minimum wage is $6.55 per hour as of July 24, 2008.  more

A. The current federal minimum wage is $6.55 per hour. It will increase to $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009.  more

As a result of legislation passed by Congress and signed by the president earlier this year, the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 per hour in three steps. The first step, effective July 24, 2007, increased the wage to $5.85 per hour. On July 24, 2008, the wage will increase to $6.55 per hour. The third and final step, effective July 24, 2009, will result in a minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour.  more