Minimum wage in Pennsylvania in 2027
$7.25 per hour1
per hourGeneral rate from July 24, 2009
No scheduled increase on record.
Year 2027
Rates in force during 2027
| Applies to | Rate | Effective | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
StandardSource$7.25 per hour Effective July 24, 2009
Verified September 26, 2026 | $7.25July 24, 2009 – current | July 24, 2009 | current |
BLS · May 2025
How the minimum compares with typical pay in Pennsylvania
30%of the median hourly wage
The median hourly wage across all occupations in Pennsylvania is $23.89 and the mean is $31.60 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates). The minimum wage of $7.25 is 30% of the median; the 10th-percentile wage is $13.91, so roughly the lowest-paid tenth of workers earn within $6.66 of the minimum. BLS
| Applies to | Rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $7.25 |
| 10th percentile | $13.91 |
| 25th percentile | $17.64 |
| Median | $23.89 |
| Mean | $31.60 |
7 rules · September 27, 2026
Labor law basics in Pennsylvania
What the law adds on top of the hourly rate. Follow the citation for exceptions.
Overtime
Most employees must be paid 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, with common exceptions for farm labor, domestic service and executive, administrative and professional employees. (non-exempt employees under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act)
Source
Most employees should be paid one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 40 per workweek. Common exceptions: Labor on a farm/domestic service/executive, administrative, professional employees (as defined by the law).
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Meal breaks
Pennsylvania requires meal breaks only for minors, who must get a 30-minute meal period on or before 5 consecutive hours of work. (minors under 18)
Source
Are children entitled to breaks at work? Yes. All child workers must be provided a 30-minute meal period on or before five consecutive hours of work.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Tips
Tips paid by card belong to the employee with no processing-fee deductions; tip pools that include tip-credited workers may only include customarily tipped occupations; managers, supervisors and employers may not take tips from a pool; and a tip credit is allowed only for employees earning at least $135 a month in tips. (tipped employees)
Source
All tips and gratuities paid by credit card or other non-cash method of payment are the property of the employee receiving them. Employers are prohibited from deducting any credit card or other payment processing fees from employees' tips. Tip Pooling Tip pools including any employee who is paid a tip credited minimum wage (less than $7.25 per hour) may only include individuals in occupations who customarily and regularly receive tips. If all employees are paid at least the state minimum wage or higher, tip pools may include both tipped and non-tipped employees. Managers, supervisors, or employers are prohibited from receiving tips from a tip pool, though they may choose to contribute tips they earned to the tip pool. Managers, supervisors, or employers can only receive tips from patrons if they provide the entire service without assistance. Example 1: A supervisor working at a bar takes a drink order from a patron, makes the drink, delivers the drink, and clears the table when the patron is finished. In this case, the supervisor may keep the entire tip. Example 2: A manager in a restaurant takes food orders and refills some drinks while a tipped employee delivers food to the table and refills drinks. In this case, the manager may not keep any part of the tip. Definition of Tipped Employee For an employer to take a tip credit for an employee's base hourly wage, the employee must earn at least $135 in tips per month.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
- Notes
- 34 Pa. Code ch. 231 (in effect August 5, 2022); the same page states an 80/20 limit on non-tip-generating duties. The $2.83 cash wage is on the LLC-1 poster.
Verified September 27, 2026
Young workers' hours
In school weeks 14- and 15-year-olds may work at most 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours a week (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), and 16- and 17-year-olds at most 8 hours on a school day and 28 hours a week; outside school terms the limits are 8 hours a day and 40 a week at 14-15, and 10 hours a day and 48 a week at 16-17. (minors 14 to 17)
Source
When school is not in session, 14 and 15-year-olds may only work between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. and no more than eight hours a day, or 40 hours a week. For some occupations, such as newspaper delivery, caddies, and some farm work, different standards may apply. When school is in session, 14 and 15-year-olds may only work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and no more than three hours a day on school days or 18 hours per school week. Different standards may apply for non-school days. 16-17-Year-Olds Work Restrictions When school is not in session, 16 and 17-year-olds may only work between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m. and no more than 10 hours a day, or 48 hours a week. Employers may not compel minors in this age group to work beyond 45 hours a week. When school is in session, 16 and 17-year-olds may only work between 6 a.m. and 12 a.m. and no more than eight hours a day on school days, or 28 hours per school week.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Required poster
The Minimum Wage Law summary poster (LLC-1) must be posted in a conspicuous place in every Pennsylvania business governed by the Minimum Wage Act.
Source
MUST BE POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE IN EVERY PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS GOVERNED BY THE MINIMUM WAGE ACT
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Recovering unpaid wages
Workers who believe their employer violated the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act should file a complaint with L&I's Bureau of Labor Law Compliance ([email protected], 1-800-932-0665).
Source
Questions/Complaints If you feel that your employer has violated the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act, you should file a complaint with the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance. Y ou can contact the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance at [email protected] or by phone at 1−800−932−0665.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Overtime-exempt salary threshold
Executive, administrative and professional employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime only if they meet the duties tests and are paid a salary of at least $684 per week ($35,568 a year). (executive, administrative, professional and outside sales employees)
Source: 29 C.F.R. Part 541
To qualify for exemption, employees generally must meet certain tests regarding their job duties and be paid on a salary basis at not less than $684 per week.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- The 2024 rule raising the level to $844/$1,128 was vacated in November 2024; DOL enforces the 2019 level of $684.
Verified September 26, 2026
$7.25 / hour
Calculators
Estimates before tax at this rate. Nothing you type leaves this page.
What this wage pays
| Weekly | $290.00 |
|---|---|
| Monthly52 weeks ÷ 12 | $1,256.67 |
| Annual52 weeks | $15,080.00 |
| Overtime rate1.5× where overtime applies | $10.88 |
4 questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Pennsylvania in 2027?
$7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009. For a 40-hour week that is about $290.00 a week or $15,080.00 a year before tax.
Is the minimum wage in Pennsylvania increasing?
No increase is scheduled on record as of October 1, 2026. Inflation-indexed jurisdictions announce the next figure a few months before it takes effect.
Is there a lower tipped minimum wage in Pennsylvania?
No separate tipped rate is on record for Pennsylvania; tipped employees are owed the full $7.25 per hour before tips, unless a higher-level rule sets one.
How does Pennsylvania compare with other states?
Pennsylvania's $7.25 ranks 32 of 51 state general rates, against a federal floor of $7.25.
2 levels of law
How this rate is resolved
The highest minimum that covers the work location applies.
Employers must pay the highest minimum that covers the work location. WageTable checks each level in turn:
- United States
- Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sets 1 rule of its own.
Notes on this jurisdiction's rules and sources
Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Act rate equals the federal minimum wage (since July 24, 2009); no enacted increase as of 2026-09-26. Tipped employees who receive at least $135 a month in tips may be paid a cash wage of $2.83. Student, learner and disabled-worker subminimums are by L&I certificate only. Pre-2009 history not sourced.
Pennsylvania
Enforcement
Enforced by Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Labor Law Compliance. Employers must display the official minimum wage poster.
Underpaid?File a wage claim