34 states and DC have their own youth subminimum wages, exemptions, or other youth wage provisions: Youth minimum wage rate and exemptions by state
| State | State Minimum Wage | State Youth Minimum Wage | State Youth Training Wage | Color Code | Comparison Details | State Statute | FLSA Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | None* | None | $4.25 | 1 | Mirrors FLSA | ||
| Alaska | $11.73 | $5.87 | None | 4 | Stronger: Workers at seasonal camps and nonprofits who work for fewer than 12 weeks a year are only exempt if they receive room and board and are paid at least 80% of min wage for full-time work are exempt (FLSA exempts all seasonal workers at camps/nonprofits that operate for seven months a year or fewer); Weaker: Alaska’s Wage and Hour Act does not apply to workers under 18 who work fewer than 30 hours a week or University of Alaska practicum students and student learners can be paid 50% of minimum wage | 3.23.10.055, 3.23.10.070 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Arizona | $14.35 | None | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage; Weaker: Minors under 18 employed part time are exempt | Article 3 Section 23-311.7 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | None | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage and student learners paid 85% of min wage (higher than FLSA share); Weaker: Students performing services for schools in which they are enrolled are exempt | 11.4.203(B) | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| California | $16.00 | None | None | 3 | Student workers at seasonal camps are paid 85% of regular minimum wage (exempt under FLSA) | LC 1182.4 | Stronger than FLSA |
| Colorado | $14.42 | $12.26 | None | 4 | Stronger: student employees at camps who live on the premises and received room and board must be paid 85% of state wage (exempt under FLSA), no youth training wage; Weaker: Non-emancipated minors can be paid 85% of the state minimum wage | 7 CCR 1103-1 Rules 2 and 3 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Connecticut | $15.69 | $13.34 | $11.90 | 2 | Minors under 18 can be paid 85% of the minimum wage permanently in agriculture and government and for the first 90 days in other industries | Sec. 31-58a | Weaker than FLSA |
| Delaware | $13.25 | None | None | 3 | Stronger: In 2021, DE eliminated the state youth subminimum wage | Stronger than FLSA | |
| Washington D.C. | $17.00 | $5.25-$9.25 | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage; Weaker: The minimum wage does not apply to youth employed under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (which permits subminimum wages for in-school and out-of-school youth as well as some adults) or the Youth Employment Act (which permits subminimum wages for summer youth ages 14-21). Youth ages 14 through 21 employed through the District’s in-school youth employment and work readiness training program can be paid a subminimum wage: federal minimum wage for in-school youth, $5.25 for the work readiness training program For summer youth jobs, youth ages 14-15 can be paid $6.25. Youth ages 16-21 can be paid $8.25. Students employed by institutions of higher education and minors under 18 are also exempt. | Chapter 2 Section 32–242 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Florida | $11.00 | None | $4.25 | 1 | Mirrors FLSA | ||
| Georgia | 5.15* | None | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage. Weaker: High school and college students are exempt | Section 34-4-3 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Hawaii | $14.00 | None | None | 1 | Mirrors FLSA | ||
| Idaho | $7.25 | None | $4.25 | 2 | Youth training wage mirrors FLSA; Weaker: Minors under 16 employed 4 or fewer hours per day are exempt | 44-1504 | Weaker than FLSA |
| Illinois | $14.00 | $12.00 | None** | 2 | Minors under 18 who work fewer than 650 hours per calendar can be paid a subminimum wage; Learners 18 and over must be paid at least 70% of the minimum wage (but learners under 18 can be paid less) | 820 ILCS 105/1; 820 ILCS 105/6 | Weaker than FLSA |
| Indiana | $7.25 | None | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage. Weaker: Minors under age 16 are exempt; Students performing services for any school, college, or university in which they are enrolled and are regularly attending classes are exempt | IC 22-2-2-3, 22-2-2-4 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Iowa | $7.25 | None | None** | 1 | IA 91D.1(1) | Mirrors FLSA | |
| Kansas | $7.25 | None | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage; Weaker: Workers under 18 employed part-time are exempt | 44-1202(e) | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | None | $4.25 | 1 | Mirrors FLSA | ||
| Louisiana | None* | None | $4.25 | 1 | Mirrors FLSA | ||
| Maine | $14.15 | None | None | 1 | Mirrors FLSA | ||
| Maryland | $15.00 | $12.75 | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage; Weaker: Minors under 18 can be paid 85% of the minimum wage; minors under 16 employed fewer than 20 hours per week are exempt | §3–403 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $12.00 | None** | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage; Weaker: Minors attending secondary school can be paid 80% of the minimum wage when employed at nonprofit hospitals or educational institutions (with waiver) | 454 CMR 27.06 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Michigan | $10.33 | $8.78 | $4.25 | 2 | Youth training wage mirrors FLSA; Weaker: Minors under 18 can be paid 85% of the minimum wage | 408.934b; 408.414b | Weaker than FLSA |
| Minnesota | $10.85 | $8.85 | $8.85 | 4 | Stronger: Teens under age 20 can be be paid $8.85 for their first 90 days (exceeds the FLSA share of the regular federal minimum wage); Minors under 18 employed by large employers can be paid the small employer minimum wage ($8.85); Youth under 18 are exempt if they are employed as corn detasslers, employed on a farm where their parent/guardians are also employed, or employed for fewer than 20 hours per week for a municipality as part of a recreational program | 177.23-24 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Mississippi | None* | None | $4.25 | 1 | Mirrors FLSA | ||
| Missouri | $12.30 | None | $11.10 | 3 | Stronger: Youth training wage is 90 cents less than regular minimum wage (exceeds FLSA share) | 290.502, 290.517 | Stronger than FLSA |
| Montana | $10.30 | $5.15 | None | 4 | Stronger: There is no general youth training wage in MT; Weaker: learners under the age of 18 who are employed as farm workers can be paid 50% of the minimum wage for the first 180 days of employment; students participating in a distributive education program established under the auspices of an accredited educational agency are exempt | 39-3-406 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Nebraska | $12.00 | None | $7.88 | 3 | The youth training wage is 75% of the state minimum wage for teens under 20 for the first 90 days (higher than federal share of regular minimum wage) | Stronger than FLSA | |
| Nevada | $10.25 w/ health benefits; $11.25 without | None | $4.25 | 2 | Youth training wage mirrors FLSA; Youth under 18 are exempt | NAC 608.100 | Weaker than FLSA |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | $5.44 | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage; Weaker: Minors 16 and under can be paid 75% of min wage | 279.21 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| New Jersey | $15.13 | None | None** | 2 | Minors under 18 are exempt unless they are employed in certain industries or are vocational school graduates with special permits | 34:11-56a4 | Weaker than FLSA |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | None | None | 3 | 2021 NM Senate Bill 35 eliminated two provisions in state law, one that created a lower minimum wage of $8.50 an hour for students enrolled in secondary school, and another that exempted people 18 years old and younger who are not enrolled in school from being included in the legal definition of an “employee,” and hence being qualified for New Mexico’s minimum wage; NM has no youth training wage | Stronger than FLSA | |
| New York | 15 ($16 in NYC) | None | None | 3 | No youth subminimum or training wage | 31.19.651 | Stronger than FLSA |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | $6.53 | None | 3 | No youth training wage; Full-time students can be paid 90% of minimum wage (higher than FLSA share of regular minimum wage) | § 95-25.3 | Stronger than FLSA |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | None | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage; Stronger/Weaker: Students enrolled in vocational education or related programs can be paid 85% of the state minimum wage for one year (categorically broader than FLSA but time-limited where the FLSA is not) | 46-02-07-02 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Ohio | $10.45 | $7.25 | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage; Weaker: Youth under 16 can be paid the federal minimum wage | See OH Minimum Wage Poster | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | None | $4.25 | 2 | Mirrors FLSA on training wage; Weaker: Minors under 18 are exempt if they have not graduated high school or a vocational program; Workers under 22 are exempt if they are regularly enrolled in a high school, college, university or vocational training program | §40-197.4(e)(7) | Weaker than FLSA |
| Oregon | 14.20 ($13.20 in non-urban areas) | None | None | 3 | Oregon has no youth training wage | Stronger than FLSA | |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | None | 4 | Stronger: PA has no youth training wage as of 2009; Weaker: Seasonal employees under 18 are exempt; students under 24 employed by nonprofit health or welfare agency engaged in activities dealing with handicapped or exceptional children or by a nonprofit day or resident seasonal recreational camp for campers under the age of eighteen years are exempt | § 231.103; 1968 Act 5 Section 5 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA | |
| Puerto Rico | $9.50 | None | $4.25 | 1 | Mirrors FLSA | ||
| Rhode Island | $14.00 | $10.50 / $12.60 | None | 4 | Stronger: Students under 19 who work at non-profit religious, educational, librarial or community services organizations can be pad 90% of min wage (higher than FLSA share); Weaker: Minors age 14-15 who work fewer than 24 hours a week can be paid 75% of min wage | RI Minimum Wage Poster; § 28-12-3 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| South Carolina | None* | None | $4.25 | 1 | Mirrors FLSA | ||
| South Dakota | $11.20 | None | $4.25 | 1 | 60-11-4.1 | Mirrors FLSA | |
| Tennessee | None* | None | $4.25 | 1 | Mirrors FLSA | ||
| Texas | $7.25 | None | 2 | Minors under 18 who are not high school graduates or a graduates of a vocational training program are exempt unless employed in agriculture and paid a piece rate; Teens under 20 are exempt if regularly enrolled in a high school, college, university, or vocational training program unless employed in agriculture and paid a piece rate | Sec. 62.155 | Weaker than FLSA | |
| Utah | $7.25 | None | $4.25 | 4 | Stronger: Training wage mirrors FLSA on rage and time limit but is limited to youth under 18 (FLSA age is 20); Weaker: Registered apprentices and students employed by the educational institution in which they are enrolled are exempt | 34-40-104; Section R610-1-3 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Vermont | $13.67 | None | $4.25 | 2 | Mirrors FLSA on training wage; Weaker: Students working during all or any part of the school year or regular vacation periods are exempt | 21 V.S.A. § 384; Page 2 of VDOL Summary of Vermont Wage and Hour Laws | Weaker than FLSA |
| Virginia | $12.00 | None | $4.25 | 2 | Youth training wage mirrors FLSA; Weaker: Minors under 16 are exempt; Minors under 18 who work fewer than 20 hours per week and are enrolled in school full-time are exempt | § 40.1-28.10 | Weaker than FLSA |
| Washington | $16.28 | $13.84 | None | 4 | Stronger: No youth training wage; Weaker: Minors under 16 can be paid 85% of the regular minimum wage | 296-125-043 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | None | $6.40 | 4 | Stronger: The youth training wage is $6.40 (higher than FLSA share of federal minimum); Weaker: any individual employed on a part-time basis who is a student in any recognized school or college is exempt | §21-5C-2 | Stronger and Weaker than FLSA |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | None | $5.90 | 3 | Youth training wage share of regular minimum wage is higher than FLSA share of federal minimum | 104.035 | Stronger than FLSA |
| Wyoming | $5.15 | None | $4.25 | 1 | Youth training wage mirrors FLSA | Wyo. Stat. § 27-4-202; 27-4-202 | Mirrors FLSA |
Notes:
* = State has no minimum wage, or minimum wage is lower than federal minimum wage. For FLSA-covered employers, the federal minimum applies.
** Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, and New Jersey have a training wage for new employees, regardless of age, so we do not consider them "youth training wage" states.
"None" under State Youth Training Wage means either that a state explicitly has no minimum wage or state law is unclear on whether youth training wages are permitted. In the State Youth Minimum Wage category, the rate may apply to only some youth workers. See "Comparison Details". State minimum wage rates are as of January 1, 2024. In states with no youth subminimum wage, youth workers at FLSA-covered employers are paid the regular state minimum wage rate. "Exempt" means that these youth workers are not considered "employees" for the purpose of minimum wage protections. "Weaker than FLSA" means that a state has its own subminimum wage rates for youth based on their age, as opposed to student status (because not all minors are full-time students), pays youth a lower percentage of the regular minimum wage (even if that subminimum exceeds the federal minimum wage), and/or if state law has additional exemptions beyond the FLSA.
Source: Analysis is based on a review of each state's minimum wage statutes, as well as the websites of state labor agencies, where necessary. Detailed source information can be provided upon request.