2025 Texas Minimum Wage
The 2025 Texas Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2025-01-01Source: Texas Minimum Wage Law (Texas Workforce Commission)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2024
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2024.
| Item | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Non-exempt employees in Texas. The Texas Minimum Wage Act mirrors the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and the primary exemption applies to anyone already covered by the federal FLSA.
What changed this year, and why
Texas continues to follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for 2025. The rate has remained at this level.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Texas for 2025?
- The minimum wage in Texas is $7.25 per hour. Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate.
- Can an employer pay less than the minimum wage?
- Under specific conditions, an employer may pay below the minimum wage to a patient or client of the Texas Department of State Health Services, to certain individuals due to age, or due to productivity impairments. See Chapter 62, Texas Labor Code for details.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Under Texas law, employers who are subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are exempt from the Texas Minimum Wage Act. Because the FLSA already covers these employers with its own minimum wage requirements, Texas does not layer a separate state obligation on top. In addition to this primary FLSA exemption, the Texas Minimum Wage Act specifically exempts several categories of workers and employers: employees of religious, educational, charitable, or nonprofit organizations; professionals, salespersons, and public officials; domestic workers; certain youths and students; inmates; family members of the employer; amusement and recreational establishments; non-agricultural employers not liable for state unemployment contributions; dairying and production of livestock; and sheltered workshops. For someone working in Texas, being in one of these categories generally means the state's minimum wage floor does not apply, though federal minimum wage protections may still govern depending on FLSA coverage. The Texas Workforce Commission provides information about state minimum wage requirements and can help clarify whether a particular worker or employer falls under one of these exemptions.
Exemptions 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 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 Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency responsible for providing information about Texas minimum wage requirements and for handling wage complaints. The Texas Minimum Wage Act designates TWC as the agency that workers and employers should turn to for guidance on the state's wage rules. Employees who believe they have been paid below the legally required rate can file a wage claim with TWC, which must be submitted within a set period after the wages were due. Alternatively, an employee may choose to file a lawsuit in civil court to recover unpaid wages. TWC also oversees written earnings statements and other employer obligations under the Texas Minimum Wage Act, making it the first point of contact for questions about whether a particular wage arrangement complies with state law. Employers seeking clarification on whether a subminimum wage applies should also direct their inquiries to TWC.
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
The federal minimum wage establishes a baseline pay floor that applies nationwide, but states can enact their own minimum wage laws that provide higher rates for workers within their borders. When a state sets a minimum wage above the federal level, employers must pay the higher state rate. Texas has adopted the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour rather than setting a separate state rate, so workers in Texas receive the federal baseline. The Texas Minimum Wage Act does not prohibit employees from collective bargaining with their employers for a higher wage, meaning unions and individual workers can negotiate pay above the minimum through employment contracts. With specified restrictions, employers may count tips and the value of meals and lodging toward meeting the minimum wage requirement. For Texas workers, this means the $7.25 hourly floor applies unless they work in an exempt category or have negotiated a higher rate through collective bargaining or individual employment agreements.
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
Texas law permits employers, subject to specific restrictions, to count an employee's tips and the value of meals and lodging toward the minimum wage. This means that cash wages paid directly to a tipped worker, such as a server or bartender, can be lower than the standard minimum if the tips received bring total compensation up to the required hourly rate. Similarly, if an employer furnishes meals or lodging to an employee as part of the job, the reasonable value of those benefits may be credited against the wage obligation. The credit is not unlimited; it must follow the restrictions set by law, and the employee must still receive the full minimum wage when tips and in-kind benefits are added to any cash pay.
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
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act establishes a nationwide minimum wage that applies in all states, including Texas. When a state's minimum wage is lower than the federal rate, the federal rate controls and employers must pay the higher amount. Texas has adopted the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which means workers in the state receive this baseline pay regardless of whether state law specifies a different figure. The Texas Minimum Wage Act incorporates the federal standard directly, ensuring that Texas workers benefit from federal protections. Employers cannot point to a lower state rate to justify paying less than $7.25 per hour, because federal law preempts any state standard that provides less protection. This principle applies to all non-exempt employees covered by either the federal act or the Texas act.
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