On January 1, 2024, the Alabama minimum wage remained the same as the previous year, $7.25 per hour – the statewide minimum wage rate since 2009.
The minimum wage situation here is unique, due to Alabama not having an active minimum wage law, therefore abiding by the federal minimum wage by default.
If you are a full-time worker on Alabama state minimum wage, your earnings could be as follows:
- Daily Minimum Wage: $58.00 (based on an 8-hour day).
- Weekly Minimum Wage: $290.00 (based on a 40-hour week).
- Monthly Minimum Wage: $1,256.66 (based on a full-time month).
- Yearly Minimum Wage: $15,080.00 (based on being paid 2080 hours per year).
Much to the potential disappointment of Alabama workers, the statewide minimum wage is not showing any signs of increasing as the years roll on.
This is not to say that most employees within the state are being paid the minimum wage. The average wage in Alabama is significantly higher.
Below is a graphic containing the minimum wage over the past several years, dating back to 2018 – as you can see, nothing has changed:
The city of Birmingham has been pursuing an ongoing battle with employees over increasing the city’s minimum wage – this worked in 2016 and the minimum wage was increased from $7.25 to $10.10.
Unfortunately, for workers in Birmingham, immediately after the increased minimum wage, the state legislature passed a law barring municipalities from setting their minimum wages.
Essentially, this reversed the new law put into place for the minimum wage to increase.
Exemptions and Subminimum Wage Rates in Alabama
In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, a few Alabama state minimum wage exemptions typically depend on your age or employment situation.
Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples:
Alabama Student Minimum Wage
The minimum wage for student employees in Alabama is 85% of the Alabama minimum wage, making their hourly pay $6.16 per hour in 2024.
This hourly rate is for any hours worked up to 20 hours per week. As a student employee, once you surpass 20 hours per week, you will be eligible for the Alabama minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour.
Being a student can be financially challenging, leading many students to pick up part-time jobs to make extra money while studying.
Despite a student minimum wage rate, many Alabama employers will not necessarily follow it and pay you equal to or more than the statewide minimum wage.
Many work-study programs are available at universities, which is a route many students go down. Still, coffee shop, cafe, bar, and restaurant jobs are commonly taken by students as they can work them into their class schedule.
Alabama Under 20 Minimum Wage
If you are under 20 years old in Alabama, federal law allows your employer to pay you as little as $4.25 per hour for your first 90 days of employment.
Once the 90-day period is over, you will be eligible to be paid the 2024 Alabama minimum wage of $7.25 per hour or potentially even more.
Fortunately for young workers, this is 90 calendar days and not 90 working days; therefore, it can be completed relatively quickly and within about three months.
Alabama Tipped Minimum Wage
If you are a tipped employee in Alabama (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $2.13 per hour, with a tip credit of $5.12 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.
Related: Alabama Server Minimum Wage
Alabama Overtime Minimum Wage
Once you work over 40 hours a week, you are eligible to be paid an overtime rate of 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour you work past 40.
So, the overtime Alabama state minimum wage is $10.88 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Alabama Employment Types Exempt From Minimum Wage
If you are an employee working under one of the following job roles, you are also exempt from the Alabama minimum wage:
- Executives
- Administration employees
- Professional employees
- Specific computer-related employees
- Outside sales employees
Minimum Wage Exemptions Table
Below is a table of the Alabama minimum wage exemptions, including some historic rates for reference:
| Idaho Minimum Wage Exemption | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tipped Minimum Wage | $2.13 | $2.13 | $2.13 | $2.13 | $2.13 |
| Overtime Minimum Wage | $10.88 | $10.88 | $10.88 | $10.88 | $10.88 |
| Under 20 Minimum Wage | $4.25 | $4.25 | $4.25 | $4.25 | $4.25 |
| Student Minimum Wage | $6.16 | $6.16 | $6.16 | $6.16 | $6.16 |
Alabama Minimum Wage History
The table below shows the current rate and history of Alabama’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Increase ($) | Increase (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2023 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2022 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2021 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2020 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2019 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2018 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2017 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2016 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2015 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2014 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2013 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2012 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2011 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2010 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2009 | $7.25 | $0.70 | 10.7% |
| 2008 | $6.55 | $0 | 0% |
| 2007 | $5.85 | $0.70 | 13.6% |
| 2006 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2005 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2004 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2003 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2002 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2001 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2000 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1999 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1998 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1997 | $5.15 | $0.40 | 8.42% |
| 1996 | $4.75 | $0.50 | 11.76% |
| 1995 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1994 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1993 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1992 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1991 | $4.25 | $0.45 | 11.84% |
| 1990 | $3.80 | $0.45 | 13.43% |
| 1989 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1988 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1987 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1986 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1985 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1984 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1983 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.
Alabama Labor Law Poster and Department of Labor Contact Details
As an Alabama employer, you need to keep yourself compliant with the law. To do this, you need to display an Alabama Labor Law poster in a prominent place.
The good news is that you can acquire one of these posters for free from the Department of Labor website, and download the poster.
If you wish to contact the department directly, here are all of the contact details you need:
Department of Labor
649 Monroe St,
Montgomery, AL 36131
Telephone: (334) 309-9066
Email: status@labor.alabama.gov
