2019 Pennsylvania Minimum Wage
The 2019 Pennsylvania Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2019-01-01Source: Wage FAQs (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry)Verified 2026-08-29
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 and employees covered by the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act
What changed this year, and why
Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Pennsylvania?
- The minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $7.25 per hour.
Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate
In Pennsylvania, most employees must receive overtime pay equal to one and one-half times their regular rate for every hour worked beyond 40 in a week. However, certain workers classified under the executive, administrative, or professional (EAP) exemption may be excluded from overtime eligibility. To qualify for this exemption, the employer must demonstrate that the employee (1) satisfies specific duties tests related to their actual job responsibilities, (2) is paid on a salary basis, and (3) earns at least $684 per week. Job titles alone do not determine exempt status; both duties and salary must meet all applicable requirements. Importantly, being paid a salary does not automatically mean an employee is exempt from overtime. The Pennsylvania Department follows the U.S. Department of Labor's longstanding duties tests and the $684 weekly salary threshold established in 2019 regulations. Employees should review their actual daily job duties and employment contracts to determine their true overtime eligibility.
Overtime compensation is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay for every hour worked over 40 per week. Under the Minimum Wage Act, certain employees may be not entitled to overtime because they fall into the executive, administrative, or professional exemption (EAP exemption), but only if certain requirements are met. In order to qualify for an EAP exemption, an employer must show (1) that the exempt employee meets certain tests regarding their job duties, (2) is paid on a salary basis, and (3) is paid not less than $684 per week.
Wage FAQs (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
If you believe you were not paid at least the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour or you were not paid correctly for your overtime hours, you should file a wage claim with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. You should try to file your claim within two years from the date the work was actually performed, though filing as soon as possible is advisable. Because employers are only required to keep payroll records for three years, delays make it more difficult for the Department to collect unpaid wages on your behalf. The Department may refuse to accept a claim if there is insufficient evidence or if the claim is not valid under the law. If your claim is accepted, the time to resolve it can range from several days to several months depending on the circumstances.
If you were not paid at least the minimum wage or you were not paid correctly for your overtime hours, you should try to file a wage claim within two years from the date the work was actually performed. However, you should file a claim as soon as you can. Since your employer is only required to keep its records for three years, it is more difficult for the Department of Labor & Industry to collect your wages as time passes.
Wage FAQs (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry)
What an employer may deduct from your pay
Under Pennsylvania law, employers may take certain deductions from an employee's paycheck, but strict rules apply. You may give your employer written permission to deduct payments for money you borrowed from a third party, and an employer that has loaned you funds may deduct repayment from your earnings if you have given written authorization. Ordinary tax withholdings must be made regardless. For all other non-tax-related deductions, the employer needs your specific written consent; a blanket authorization signed at the time of hire to cover any future deductions is not considered valid. As a general rule, deductions may not reduce your gross pay below the minimum wage, and any permitted deductions must be for your benefit as the employee. This protection ensures that required costs such as uniforms or equipment cannot push your take-home earnings below the $7.25 hourly floor.
What Can Be Deducted From My Paycheck? If you have borrowed money from a third party, you can give the employer written permission to deduct payments from your earnings. If your employer has loaned you funds, it can deduct the amount from your earnings as long as you have given written authorization. Of course, normal tax deductions must be made. You must give written authorization to your employer to make such non-tax related deductions. It is not valid to sign a "blanket" authorization at the time of hire to cover any future deductions. Further, as a rule, deductions cannot reduce your gross pay below minimum wage, and the deductions must be for the employee's benefit.
Wage FAQs (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry)
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.
Wage FAQs (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry)
- Hourly
What is the Minimum Wage in Pennsylvania? The minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $7.25 per hour.
Other years
Every Pennsylvania Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state