Are you someone who is looking to take up a job in the state of Louisiana? We shall discuss the minimum wage in Louisiana in this article to help you better understand the rules and regulations surrounding it.
As a citizen of the USA, all employees and workers are eligible to receive a minimum amount of compensation for the work they do. This is regulated and set by the Federal government.
According to them, workers and employees need a certain amount of money to maintain a decent standard of living, so they regularly adjust the nationwide minimum wage. This certain amount of money set by the Federal government is called minimum wage or Federal minimum wage.
However, despite the existence of a Federal Minimum Wage, each individual state has its unique and specific minimum wage that is clearly outlined. Louisiana, too, has its own set of rules and regulations. This article deals with the minimum wage in Louisiana.
What is the Minimum Wage in Louisiana?
The current minimum wage in Louisiana as of 2023 is $7.25 hourly. This is the same as the Federal Minimum Wage. This simplifies things because, according to the Fair Labor Standards Association, all workers and employees have the right to receive a higher minimum wage between their state and federal minimum wages.
Exemptions to Louisiana Minimum Wage
The following are exempted from receiving minimum wage in Louisiana:
- Employees who are disabled
- Employees who receive tips
- Employees who are full-time students
- Employees who work in agriculture or otherwise engaged in seasonal work
- Employees working in NPOs
- Employees under 20
Weekly Minimum Wages in Louisiana
A worker or employee is generally expected to work 40 hours per week when calculating the weekly minimum wage. Therefore, Louisiana's weekly minimum wage is $290 if an employee or worker earns the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Yearly Minimum Wage in Louisiana
A worker or employee is generally expected to work 52 weeks annually when calculating the yearly minimum wage. Therefore, Louisiana's yearly minimum wage is $15,080 if an employee or worker earns the minimum wage of $7.25 hourly.
Overtime Minimum Wage in Louisiana
The Fair Labor Standards Act mandates that every employee who works overtime or more than the usual 40 hours per week is obligated to receive overtime pay which is 1.5 times the Federal or State Minimum Wage.
In light of this, Louisiana's overtime minimum wage is $10.875 for each hour worked beyond that of the standard 40 hours per week.
For instance, let us assume that an individual works 45 hours per week. So they should earn their regular minimum wage + additional overtime minimum wage. So the breakdown should be something like this:
40 x $7.25= $290 as regular income,
5 x $10.875= $54.375 for working overtime.
So that individual should expect to earn at least $344.375 for working 45 hours that week, considering the minimum wage as $7.25 and a 40-hour standard work week.
Louisiana Overtime Wage Exemptions
The following are exempted from receiving overtime wages in Louisiana:
- Administrators, executives, professionals, and other white-collar workers who make $684 or more a week
- Babysitters
- Caregivers and individuals working for non-profits
- Employees who work in farms and agriculture
- Family members of the employers who work for them
- Individuals who work and have jobs in IT
- Individuals who work at businesses in the hospitality industry
- Employees who live in the home where they do domestic work
- Employees who work in certain types of agriculture
- Employees who live in the home where they do domestic work
- Employees who work in certain types of agriculture
- Individuals who are employed directly by the US government
- Employees of broadcasting services outside of major cities
- Individuals who work at movie theaters
- Individuals who work in the amusement industry, such as at theme parks
- Individuals from another state who work in sales
Tipped Minimum Wage in Louisiana
In Louisiana, the minimum hourly wage for tipped employees is $2.13. However, if the total amount of money an individual makes in a week is less than what they would have made at the minimum wage rate, the employer needs to pay for the difference and ensure that the employee earns the $7.25 minimum wage rate. All employers are legally mandated to compensate for such differences, according to the FLSA.
For instance, assume that an individual in Louisiana earns a total of $200 as a tipped employee in a week, out of which $85.2 is from the $2.13 tipped hourly wage and $114.8 is from customer tips.
In such a scenario, the employer needs to compensate that individual an additional $90 to make the total weekly earnings of that employee $290, which is the weekly amount they would have earned working at the standard Louisiana minimum wage.
The FLSA mandates employers to ensure this. Failure to maintain this will result in a violation of worker rights.
How is Louisiana Minimum Wage Different from the Federal Minimum Wage?
The minimum wage in Louisiana is equal to the Federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 hourly. However, unlike most other states, the subminimum wage in Louisiana is the same as their regular minimum wage.
Who Qualifies for Minimum Wage in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, state and federal laws have introduced different rates of minimum wages for different categories of employees. Some employees may be paid less than others, while others are exempt from receiving the minimum wage.
The following is a list of employees exempt from receiving the minimum wage in Louisiana. They are;
- Employees that receive tips
- Specific student employees
- Employees working as Admins, Executives, and Professionals
- Employees that work as salespersons but are from a different state
- Employees that work in creative industries
- Employees that provide domestic services
- Employees that receive tips
Other than the employees mentioned above, any worker inside the state can qualify for the minimum wage in Louisiana.
Who is Subject to Subminimum Wage in Louisiana?
The following are subject to subminimum wage in Louisiana:
- Minors
- Individuals under training
- Individuals that are learning
- Employees that are students
- Employees who have disabilities
Historical Change of Minimum Wage in Louisiana
Year | Minimum Wage Amount in USD |
2023 | 7.25 |
2022 | 7.25 |
2021 | 7.25 |
2020 | 7.25 |
2019 | 7.25 |
2018 | 7.25 |
2017 | 7.25 |
2016 | 7.25 |
2015 | 7.25 |
2014 | 7.25 |
2013 | 7.25 |
2012 | 7.25 |
2011 | 7.25 |
2010 | 7.25 |
2009 | 7.25 |
2008 | 6.55 |
2007 | 5.85 |
2006 | 5.15 |
2005 | 5.15 |
2004 | 5.15 |
2003 | 5.15 |
2002 | 5.15 |
2001 | 5.15 |
2000 | 5.15 |
1999 | 5.15 |
1998 | 5.15 |
1997 | 5.15 |
1996 | 4.75 |
1995 | 4.25 |
1994 | 4.25 |
1993 | 4.25 |
1992 | 4.25 |
1991 | 4.25 |
1990 | 3.80 |
1989 | 3.35 |
1988 | 3.35 |
1987 | 3.35 |
1986 | 3.35 |
1985 | 3.35 |
FAQ
1. Are Employees required to work Overtime in Louisiana?
No, but when employees work more than 40 hours a week, it’s considered overtime work and needs to be compensated as such. Their employer must pay them 1.5 times their regular pay rate.
2. What are Final Paycheck Laws In Louisiana?
Employers are obligated to pay employees a final check by the law within the regularly scheduled payment date or 2 weeks of the termination of an employee.
3. Are Small Businesses required to pay Minimum Wage?
Yes. The FLSA mandates that all businesses in Vermont pay employees at least $7.25 hourly, regardless of size.
4. Does Louisiana have a separate Minimum Wage?
While many states in the US have their own minimum wage, Louisiana is not one of them. It is 1 of the 5 states in the US that doesn't have a separate minimum wage and simply complies with the federal minimum wage.
5. Are COBRA Laws applicable in Louisiana?
Yes, both COBRA and Mini-COBRA laws are applicable in Louisiana.
