Louisiana Minimum Wage Laws Louisiana Minimum Wage for 2016, 2017

2017 Hourly Minimum Wage
$7.25 / hour
Weekly Minimum Wage1
$290.00 / 40-hr week
Yearly Minimum Wage2
$15,080.00 / year

Louisiana's state minimum wage rate is $7.25 per hour. This is the same as the current Federal Minimum Wage rate. The minimum wage applies to most employees in Louisiana, with limited exceptions including tipped employees, some student workers, and other exempt occupations.

The Louisiana minimum wage was last changed in 2008, when it was raised $0.70 from $6.55 to $7.25. Louisiana's minimum wage rate is linked to a Consumer Price Index, which is intended to raise the rate along with inflation. The current minimum wage rate is re-evaluated yearly based on these values.

There is no state minimum wage law in Louisiana, so the Federal Minimum Wage and labor law as specified in the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) applies.


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All Louisiana employers must display an approved Louisiana minimum wage poster in a prominent place to inform employees about the minimum wage and their worker's rights under Louisiana labor law.

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Louisiana Labor Law Posters Louisiana Minimum Wage & Labor Law Posters

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Louisiana labor law requires all employers in Louisiana to visibly display an approved Louisiana minimum wage poster, and other Louisiana and federal labor law posters, to ensure that all employees are aware of federal and Louisiana labor law and overtime regulations. Failure to display a Louisiana labor law poster in the workplace can result in severe fines.

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The Louisiana minimum wage poster, and additional required Louisiana labor law posters, are also available on the Louisiana labor law posters download page.

Louisiana Overtime Minimum Wage Louisiana Overtime Minimum Wage

LA Overtime Wage
$10.88 / hour
Daily Cutoff for Overtime
Weekly Cutoff for Overtime
40 hours/week

All workers who put in over 40 weekly hours are entitled to a minimum wage of at least 1.5 times the regular applicable minimum wage (learn more about Louisiana overtime pay). Some states require workers who work over a certain number of daily hours to be eligible for this overtime rate as well (Louisiana law does not specify a daily overtime limit).

The FLSA guarantees all LA employees adequate overtime compensation for all qualifying overtime hours worked. If your employer does not pay adequate overtime wages, you can file an unpaid overtime claim with the Louisiana Department of Labor.

Louisiana Minimum Wage Exemptions Louisiana Minimum Wage Exemptions

In addition to any Louisiana-specific minimum wage exemptions described above, the Federal Fair Labor Standards act defines special minimum wage rates applicable to certain types of workers. You may be paid under the Louisiana minimum wage if you fit into one of the following categories:

  • Louisiana Under 20 Minimum Wage - $4.25 - Federal law allows any employer in Louisiana to pay a new employee who is under 20 years of age a training wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment.
  • Louisiana Student Minimum Wage - $6.16 - Full-time high school or college students who work part-time may be paid 85% of the Louisiana minimum wage (as little as $6.16 per hour) for up to 20 hours of work per week at certain employers (such as work-study programs at universities).

Louisiana Minimum Wage Exemptions Frequently Asked Questions - Louisiana Minimum Wage & Labor Law

What is the Louisiana minimum wage?

The current Louisiana minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is the lowest amount a non-exempt employee in Louisiana can legally be paid for hourly work. Special minimum wage rates, such as the "Louisiana waitress minimum wage" for tipped employees, may apply to certain workers.[1]

How much will I earn working a minimum wage jobin Louisiana?


What is the Louisiana under 18 minimum wage?

Louisiana employers may pay 18 year olds and minors the youth minimum wage of $4.25 for the first 90 days of employment. Other labor law exemptions for minors in Louisiana may exist.

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1 These earnings estimates do not account for the Louisiana income tax External Link, federal income tax, or local/municipal income taxes.

Labor Law Footnotes, Sources & Citations:


** This Document Provided By Minimum-Wage.org **
Source: http://www.minimum-wage.org/louisiana