2016 Texas Minimum Wage
The 2016 Texas Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2016-01-01Source: Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2015
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2015.
| Item | 2015 | 2016 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Non-exempt employees in Texas who are not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act
What changed this year, and why
Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour. The state does not set a separate minimum wage.
Common questions
- Does Texas have its own minimum wage rate?
- Texas does not set its own minimum wage. It follows the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 per hour.
- Who is exempt from the Texas minimum wage?
- Texas law generally follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Workers covered by the FLSA are exempt from the Texas Minimum Wage Act because federal rules already apply to them.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Texas does not have a separate youth-training or student-learner subminimum wage in state law. Under the Texas Minimum Wage Act, the only people who may be paid below the regular $7.25 per hour floor are those already exempt from the federal Fair Labor Standards Act or those for whom the FLSA itself authorizes a special certificate. The state statute lists broad exemptions - for example, employees of religious, educational, charitable or nonprofit organizations; professionals; domestics; inmates; certain youths and students; and family members - but these exemptions remove coverage entirely rather than create a lower subminimum rate. A Texas employer who is not covered by the FLSA and who does not fall into one of the state's exemption categories must pay the full $7.25 per hour; there is no state-issued certificate allowing a lower training or student wage.
The primary exemption from the Texas Minimum Wage Act is for any person covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 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
Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency responsible for providing information about Texas minimum wage requirements. This means that if you have questions about the minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour or need clarification about whether it applies to a particular job, TWC is the official resource to contact. The Texas Minimum Wage Act designates TWC as the authoritative source for guidance on state minimum wage laws. If you believe you have not been paid the required minimum wage, you can file a wage claim with TWC, or you may file a lawsuit in civil court. TWC provides guidance on how to file a wage claim and can help workers understand their rights under Texas minimum wage law. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division handles questions about the federal minimum wage, which Texas adopts. Workers can also reach TWC by phone for questions, compliments, or complaints about wage matters.
Indicates Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the agency who provides information about state minimum wage requirements.
Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
Texas does not set a state minimum wage above the federal floor; instead, it adopts the federal rate of $7.25 per hour. Because the state has not enacted a higher wage, workers in Texas are covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act at $7.25 per hour, and employers must pay at least that amount.
Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
An employer is allowed, with specified restrictions, to count tips and the value of meals and lodging toward the minimum wage. This means that the cash wage the employer hands to the worker does not have to equal the full minimum wage on its own if the worker also receives tips or receives meals or lodging from the employer as part of the job. The tip credit and the meals-and-lodging credit are each subject to limits set by law: the employer must still meet the overall minimum wage obligation, the worker must be informed of the arrangement, and the value credited for meals or lodging must be reasonable and tied to actual cost. Texas follows the federal framework here, so the hourly minimum wage remains $7.25 as the baseline, and any tip or in-kind credit is measured against that figure. Employers who fail to meet the restrictions on these credits owe the shortfall as unpaid wages, and affected employees can file a wage claim with the Texas Workforce Commission or bring a civil lawsuit.
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
Because Texas has not enacted a state minimum wage that exceeds the federal level, the lowest hourly pay a Texas employer can give a covered, non-exempt worker is the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The Texas Minimum Wage Act points to the federal figure rather than setting its own separate floor. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, when a state has not adopted a higher wage, the federal rate is the enforceable minimum. For workers in Texas in 2016, this means $7.25 per hour is what they are owed, and the Texas Workforce Commission directs both employees and employers to that amount as the binding floor.
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