2015 Texas Minimum Wage
The 2015 Texas Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2015-01-01Source: Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)Verified 2026-09-01
Who it applies to
Non-exempt employees in Texas
What changed this year, and why
The minimum wage in Texas is $7.25 per hour. Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate rather than setting a separate state rate.
Common questions
- Does Texas have a state minimum wage different from the federal rate?
- Texas does not set its own minimum wage. The state follows the federal minimum wage.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Texas law identifies specific categories of workers who are exempt from the Texas Minimum Wage Act and may be paid less than the standard rate. Among these exemptions are certain youths and students, along with other groups including domestics, inmates, family members, professionals, salespersons, public officials, employees of religious, educational, charitable, or nonprofit organizations, employees of amusement and recreational establishments, and sheltered workshops. However, because Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour, most workers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are already exempt from the state act. The federal FLSA is the primary authority for minimum wage coverage in Texas. Employers and workers should review the specific conditions that apply to each exempt category under Chapter 62 of the Texas Labor Code.
Other specific exemptions include: Employment in, of or by religious, educational, charitable, or nonprofit organizations Professionals, salespersons, or public officials Domestics Certain youths and students Inmates Family members Amusement and recreational establishments Non-agricultural employers not liable for state unemployment contributions Dairying and production of livestock Sheltered workshops
Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
The Texas Minimum Wage Act designates the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) as the state agency responsible for providing information about minimum wage requirements. TWC also handles wage complaints: workers who believe they have been paid below the required rate may file a wage claim with TWC within 180 days of when the wages were due. Alternatively, a worker may pursue a lawsuit in civil court within two years of the date the wages were due to recover unpaid wages plus liquidated damages. For questions about the federal minimum wage, which Texas mirrors at $7.25 per hour, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is the appropriate resource. The Texas Labor Code Chapter 62 also provides guidance on state wage rules. In short, TWC is the first stop for information and complaints about state wage obligations, while the U.S. DOL provides resources on the federal rate that Texas has adopted.
You can file a wage claim with TWC, or you can file a lawsuit in civil court. If you file a wage claim with TWC, it must be filed no later than 180 days after the wages were due. Get more information about How to File a Wage Claim. You have two years from the date wages were due to file a lawsuit to recover the unpaid wages plus an additional equal amount as liquidated damages.
Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Texas follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, but employers in certain situations may count a portion of an employee's tips, as well as the reasonable value of meals and lodging provided by the employer, toward meeting the minimum wage obligation. This means the employer's direct cash wage payment can be lower than $7.25 per hour as long as the tips and the value of those benefits together bring the worker's total compensation up to at least the minimum wage. The law imposes specific restrictions on how and when this credit can be applied. Employers must ensure that the credit does not exceed the actual cost or fair value of the meals and lodging furnished, and that the employee actually receives the tips counted. Workers who believe these rules are not being followed may file a wage claim with the Texas Workforce Commission or pursue a lawsuit in civil court within the time limits set by law.
With specified restrictions, employers may count tips and the value of meals and lodging toward minimum wage.
Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour. Because the Texas Minimum Wage Act does not set a higher state rate, the $7.25 federal floor is the enforceable minimum for most workers in Texas. The Texas Minimum Wage Act's primary exemption covers any person already covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), meaning federal law is the main authority for most Texas employers. When both state and federal minimum wage laws apply, the employer must pay the higher of the two rates. Since Texas does not have a state minimum wage above the federal level, the federal rate governs for workers in Texas.
The primary exemption from the Texas Minimum Wage Act is for any person covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)
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.
Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)
- Hourly
Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
Other years
Every Texas Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state