Pennsylvania Wage and Hour Laws

Statutes

Pennsylvania Statutes Title 43 P.S. Labor:

• Section 333.104 (minimum wages)
• Section 333.105 (exemptions)
• Section 333.113 (civil actions)

Minimum Wage

The minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $7.25, consistent with the federal minimum wage. However, the minimum wage for state employees is $12.00; this also applies to employees of contractors who spend 20% or more of their time on state projects.

Overtime Law

Unlike many states, Pennsylvania follows federal labor laws and doesn't have its own state laws for overtime.

An employee must be paid one and one-half their regular rate of pay for any hours worked over 40 in any 7-day workweek.

Exemptions: Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay

The following employees aren't covered by Pennsylvania's minimum wage law or overtime law:

• Farm laborers;
• Employees that perform domestic services in or about the private home of the employer;
• Employees connected with the publication of any weekly, semiweekly, or daily newspaper with a circulation of less than 4,000;
• Executive, administrative, or professional employees (including elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators);
• Outside salespersons;
• Volunteers for educational, charitable, religious, or nonprofit organizations;
• Seasonal employees under 18 (or under 24 if they're students) if employed by nonprofit health or welfare agencies engaged in activities for handicapped or exceptional children;
• Employees of public amusement or recreational establishments that operate for no more than 7 months per year or that make most of their money 6 months out of the year;
• Golf caddies;
• Switchboard operators for small telephone companies; and
• Employees (not subject to civil service laws) of elected officials/elected officials.

Additionally, the following individuals are covered by Pennsylvania's minimum wage requirement, but aren't covered by the overtime requirement:

• Salespeople or mechanics selling and servicing vehicles, trailers, trucks, or aircraft;
• Taxi drivers;
• Announcers, news editors, or chief engineers at small television stations or radio stations;
• Employees engaged in processing maple sap into sugar or syrup;
• Movie theater employees;
• Motor carrier employees.