Louisiana State Minimum Wage

For business owners and managers, it is essential to know what you are legally obligated to pay your employees. Many states in the US have different laws, rules, and regulations when it comes to the minimum wage, and it is crucial to be equipped with everything there is to know regarding the minimum wage for your specific state.

Louisiana’s minimum wage in 2023, much like the minimum wage in Indiana, is currently $7.25 per hour. $7.25 is also the federal minimum wage; this wage is shared by 21 states and has not increased since 2009. There seem to be no signs of a federal wage increase in the coming years.

If you are a full-time worker on Louisiana state minimum wage, your earnings could be as follows:

• Weekly Minimum Wage: $290 (based on a 40-hour week).
• Yearly Minimum Wage: $15,080 (based on being paid 52 weeks per year).

Did the Louisiana Minimum Wage Go Up?

The graphic below highlights the Louisiana minimum wage over the past several years. The minimum wage did not go up and remains at $7.25 per hour in 2023.

2023 has not experienced an increase in the Louisiana state minimum wage, and there doesn’t seem to be any signs of it increasing in the coming years. This page is constantly updated with the latest information, but for additional information regarding the Louisiana state minimum wage, including law changes and workers’ rights, take a look at the Louisiana Department of Labor website.

In early 2018, the state held talks to increase the Louisiana minimum wage to $8.00 per hour in 2019 and $8.50 in 2020. However, this was voted down by business interest groups and never materialized.

You can view and download the Louisiana state minimum wage labor law poster for 2022-2023. Employers must display an official poster outlining the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ensuring that accurate employee time and pay records are kept.

Louisiana Department of Labor & Workforce Commission Contact Details

2900 Dowdell St
Shreveport, LA 71103
United States
1-866-783-5567
Workforce commission for businesses
Workforce commission for workers

Louisiana Minimum Wage History

The table below provides the current rate and history of Louisiana’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983. You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.

Louisiana minimum wage history for more than 10 years – downloadable PDF below

Louisiana Minimum Wage History – Downloadable PDF

Louisiana Minimum Wage Exemptions

In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, there are a few Louisiana state minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation. Below are some employment examples for minimum wage exemptions in Louisiana:

• Farmworkers
• Newspaper delivery workers
• Seasonal workers
• Babysitters

Louisiana Student Minimum Wage

The minimum wage for student employees in Louisiana is 85% of the Louisiana minimum wage, making their hourly pay $6.16 per hour in 2023.

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 to be paid the Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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.

Louisiana Under 20 Minimum Wage

If you are under 20 years old in Louisiana, 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 2023 Louisiana 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.

Louisiana Tipped Minimum Wage

If you are a tipped employee in Louisiana (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.

Louisiana 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 Louisiana state minimum wage is $10.88 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.