Pennsylvania State Minimum Wage 2024

As it stands, there has been no change to the standard Pennsylvania state minimum wage in 2024. Much the same as in previous years, the minimum wage in Pennsylvania has remained the same as the federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour), for the most part.

However, the Pennsylvania state minimum wage is unique compared with most due to there being a different minimum wage rate for those working under Government Jurisdiction. For those exempt from the standard state minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour, the minimum wage you are eligible to be paid in 2024 is $15 per hour.

Did the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Go Up?

As it stands, the minimum wage in Pennsylvania did not increase on a statewide and federal level in 2024, remaining $7.25 per hour for all state employees. For federal employees or those working under Government Jurisdiction, the minimum wage has not increased either, staying at $15 per hour.

However, the minimum wage for federal and government employees in Pennsylvania will increase in July after a mid-year increase based on the CPI (Consumer Price Index). Because the majority of Pennsylvania employees are not employed under the governor’s jurisdiction, the graphic below highlights the Pennsylvania minimum wage over the past several years for non-commonwealth employees.

If you are a full-time worker on minimum wage in Pennsylvania, 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).

You can view and download the Pennsylvania minimum wage labor law poster for 2024 here at no charge. 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.

Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Exemptions 2024

The Pennsylvania state minimum wage in 2024 remains at $7.25 per hour and has not increased since 2009 for employees exempt from the Government ruling.

There were talks of increasing the minimum wage in 2020, seeing the wage rise from $7.25 to $8.50 per hour. However, this subsequently fell through and there are yet to be talks of another increase.

Pennsylvania would have become the 30th state to have a minimum wage higher than the federal wage of $7.25. If all went to plan, the minimum wage was also set to be increased in January 2021, however, this has not come to fruition.

In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, there are a few Pennsylvania state minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation. Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.

Pennsylvania Student Minimum Wage

The minimum wage for student employees in Pennsylvania is 85% of the Pennsylvania 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 to be paid the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania Under 20 Minimum Wage

If you are under 20 years old in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania Tipped Minimum Wage

For tipped employees earning $30 or more per month in tips, they can be paid a Pennsylvania minimum wage of $2.83 per hour. This amount plus tips must equal the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, otherwise, the employer must make up the difference. These jobs are typically servers in restaurants and bartenders.

Pennsylvania 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 minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $10.88 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

Below are the rest of the Pennsylvania minimum wage exempt employees:

• Labor workers on a farm are exempt from the minimum wage.
• Golf Caddies do not have to be paid the minimum wage rate in Pennsylvania.
• Educational, charitable, religious, or nonprofit organizations where no employer-employee relationship exists and service is rendered gratuitously.

Pennsylvania Minimum Wage History

The table below shows the current rate and history of Pennsylvania’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.