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As of 2024, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, which is the federal minimum wage. This applies to most workers in the state, but there are some exceptions. For example, tipped workers and trainees (under specific categories) may have different wage conditions.
Some cities or regions in Kentucky State have their own minimum wage laws that are higher than the state’s. So, if you work in one of these areas, you’ll earn more than the state minimum wage. Jefferson, Fayette, Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro, and Covington have a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. However, Boone County has a higher minimum wage of $16.20 per hour for certain types of work.
For overtime employees, employers in Kentucky must pay you extra for working more than 40 hours (about 3 days) a week or on the seventh day of work
Minimum Wages in Kentucky Cities
The table below lists the minimum wage rate across all cities of Kentucky
| City | Non-Tipped Employees | Tipped Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Lexington | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Bowling Green | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Owensboro | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Covington | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Georgetown | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Richmond | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Florence | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Elizabethtown | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Nicholasville | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Hopkinsville | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Paducah | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Frankfort | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Corbin | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Pikeville | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Ashland | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Winchester | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Somerset | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Mayfield | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Versailles | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Morehead | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Prestonsburg | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Murray | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Erlanger | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Hazard | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Fort Thomas | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Paris | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Barbourville | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
| Campbellsville | $7.25/hour | $2.13/hour |
Threshold For Employees Exempt
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced new salary thresholds for exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that will also take effect in Kentucky.
- Exempt employees are those who are exempt from overtime regulations, paid a salary, and perform administrative, professional, executive, computer, or outside sales work.
- Non-exempt employees are those paid hourly, perform more manual or technical duties, and are entitled to overtime pay for any hours worked beyond 40 in a work week.
Here are the updates:
Effective July 1, 2024:
- For Executive, Administrative, or Professional Employees, the annual salary threshold will increase from $35,568 to $43,888 (or $844 per week).
- For Highly Compensated Employees, the annual salary threshold will increase from $107,432 to $132,964
Effective January 1, 2025:
- For Executive, Administrative, or Professional Employees, the annual salary threshold will increase from $43,888 to $58,656 (or $1,128 per week).
- For Highly Compensated Employees, the annual salary threshold will increase from $132,964 to $151,164
Employees must meet these salary thresholds and duty tests to be exempt from overtime pay requirements under the FLSA.
Historical Data of Kentucky Minimum Wages
Kentucky has followed the federal minimum wage rates since 1968, with the last increase to $7.25 per hour in 2009. The state has not set its minimum wage rate above the federal level.
Here is a table justifying the minimum wage rates according to the years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1968-1976 | $0.75 | Initial federal minimum wage rate |
| 1977-1978 | $1.60 | Increase due to federal legislation |
| 1979-1980 | $2.00 | Further increase |
| 1981-2007 | $2.15 | Adjusted for inflation and federal changes |
| 2008 | $5.85 | Federal increase |
| 2009 | $6.55 | Federal increase |
| 2010-2024 | $7.25 | Current federal minimum wage rate ($7.25) |
Source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/history
Exemptions in Minimum Wages of Kentucky
In Kentucky, certain employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Here are some of the main exemptions as of 2024;
- Employees working in agriculture are exempt from minimum wage and overtime.
- Bona fide executive employees who meet specific criteria, such as managing a department and overseeing the work of other employees, are exempt.
- Administrative employees performing office or non-manual work directly related to management or general business operations, and exercising discretion and independent judgment, are exempt.
- Professional employees in recognized fields of artistic or creative endeavor, or those requiring advanced knowledge typically acquired by prolonged education, are exempt.
- Employees whose primary duty is making sales or obtaining orders and who are customarily and regularly away from the employer’s place of business are also exempt.
- Employees engaged in computer-related work and meeting specific criteria are exempt.
- Employees working in domestic service in or about a private home are exempt.
- Employers can pay a training wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment for employees under the age of 20.
- Full-time high school or college students working part-time may be paid 85% of the Kentucky minimum wage, which comes out to $6.16 per hour.
These exemptions help ensure that certain roles and industries can operate flexibly while still adhering to labor standards.
