2019 Federal Minimum Wage
The 2019 Federal Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2019-01-01Source: Minimum Wage (DOL)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2018
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2018.
| Item | 2018 | 2019 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and their non-exempt employees.
What changed this year, and why
The federal minimum wage remained $7.25 per hour in 2019, unchanged from the prior year.
Common questions
- What was the federal minimum wage in 2019?
- The federal minimum wage was $7.25 per hour in 2019.
- Did the federal minimum wage change from 2018 to 2019?
- No. The federal minimum wage remained $7.25 per hour in 2019, the same as in 2018.
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. If a worker believes an employer has paid less than that, or less than the applicable state minimum, there are steps to take. The Fair Labor Standards Act itself does not set up a procedure for collecting wages that exceed the federal floor - such as an employer's promised rate or commissions above the minimum. However, many states have their own wage-payment laws that allow workers to file claims for unpaid wages, and those state claims may sometimes cover fringe benefits as well. For questions about the federal minimum wage or to report a potential violation of the FLSA, workers can contact the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. For issues that fall under state law - such as unpaid wages above the federal minimum or late payment - workers should reach out to their state labor office or state department of labor, which enforces state wage statutes. In short, federal agencies handle federal minimum wage complaints, while state agencies handle wage claims arising under state law.
The FLSA does not provide wage payment collection procedures for an employee’s usual or promised wages or commissions in excess of those required by the FLSA. However, some states do have laws under which such claims (sometimes including fringe benefits) may be filed.
Minimum Wage (DOL)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
The $7.25 federal minimum is a floor and not a ceiling, and for most workers in the United States it is not the operative number. Many states set their own minimum wage, some of them well above the federal one, and where a state gives greater protection the employer must comply with both laws - which in practice means paying the higher rate. Nothing in the federal act preempts the more generous state rule; it sets the minimum below which no covered employer may go. Two consequences worth carrying. Your own rate is the highest of the federal, state and local figures that reach your job, so the number to look up is your state's and your city's rather than this one. And a job that pays exactly $7.25 in a state with a higher minimum is not a lawful federal-rate job; it is an underpaid one.
Many states also have minimum wage laws. Some state laws provide greater employee protections; employers must comply with both.
Minimum Wage (DOL)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
In the United States, the federal minimum wage sets a floor that applies everywhere. Many states also have their own minimum wage laws. Where a state law provides greater employee protections — for example, a higher hourly rate — employers must comply with both the federal and the state requirement, which in practice means paying the worker the higher of the two rates. When a state has no minimum wage law or sets one below the federal level, the Fair Labor Standards Act still governs and the employer must pay at least $7.25 per hour. An employer therefore cannot point to a lower state rate to justify paying less than the federal floor; the federal minimum remains enforceable regardless. Workers who are told their state rate controls should verify that it meets or exceeds the federal amount, and if it does not, they are entitled to the federal rate.
Some state laws provide greater employee protections; employers must comply with both.
Minimum Wage (DOL)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Minimum Wage (DOL)
- Hourly
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour
Other years
Every Federal Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state