Federal Minimum Wage Is $7.25, Overtime After 40 Hours
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and hasn’t changed since July 24, 2009: the US Department of Labor gives that figure and says some state laws provide greater protections, so employers must comply with both. Depending on your state, your hourly pay may have to be higher than $7.25.
Overtime has a federal rule too: unless exempt, covered employees must get at least one and a half times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
The federal minimum wage
The Department of Labor explains (Department of Labor minimum wage):
- $7.25 an hour: effective July 24, 2009.
- State law may be higher: some state laws provide greater protections, and employers must comply with both; many states also have their own minimum wage laws.
How overtime works
The Department of Labor explains (Department of Labor overtime pay):
- Overtime after 40 hours: hours over 40 in a workweek are paid at least one and a half times your regular rate.
- What counts as a week: a fixed, regularly recurring period of 168 hours, seven consecutive 24-hour periods; hours can’t be averaged over two or more weeks.
- Weekends and holidays aren’t automatically extra: federal law doesn’t require extra pay for Saturdays, Sundays, holidays or rest days unless your total hours that week go over 40.
- When it’s paid: normally on the regular payday for the pay period in which the hours were worked.
- No limit on hours: federal law sets no limit on how many hours a week employees 16 and older may work.
For the forms to fill out on your first day at work, see New Job, I-9 Within 3 Days, Nonresidents Mark Single on W-4; for jobs that ask you to pay first, see Watch for Job Scams Online, Never Pay to Get a Job. The tax deduction for overtime and tips is left to our money site’s guide on the tips and overtime deduction.
What this article did not check
- Your state’s minimum wage: amounts differ by state, and this article did not check them.
- Tipped workers and exempt jobs: which jobs are exempt and how tipped workers’ pay is figured were not checked.
- How to file a complaint about unpaid wages: this article did not check.
Frequently asked questions
What is the federal minimum wage?
$7.25 an hour, effective July 24, 2009.
My state’s minimum wage is higher. Which one does my employer pay?
The Department of Labor says employers must comply with both when state law gives more protection, so they can’t go by the federal $7.25 alone.
Do I get overtime for working weekends?
Federal law doesn’t require extra pay for weekends or holidays; only hours over 40 in that week count as overtime.
I work 50 hours this week and 30 next week. Can that be averaged to 40?
No. The Department of Labor says hours can’t be averaged over two or more weeks.
Sources and dates checked
All checked on 2026-10-30. This article is not legal advice.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wage (no update date on the page):https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage
- U.S. Department of Labor, Overtime Pay (no update date on the page):https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/overtime