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Starting July 1, 2024, Nevada will increase the minimum wage to $12 per hour for all employees, including tipped workers. Owing to the state’s unique wage rules, employees earning less than $18 per hour qualify to receive overtime pay (1.5 times their regular pay) both after 8 hours of work in a day and beyond 40 hours in a week. Meanwhile, employees who earn more than $18 per hour are eligible for overtime only if they work more than 40 hours in a week.
Minimum Wages in Nevada Cities
The table below shows the minimum wage across all cities in Nevada.
| City | Non-Tipped Minimum Wage | Tipped Minimum Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Reno | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Henderson | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| North Las Vegas | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Sparks | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Carson City | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Elko | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Boulder City | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Mesquite | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Fallon | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Pahrump | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Fernley | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Winnemucca | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Ely | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Lovelock | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Yerington | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Tonopah | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Searchlight | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Goldfield | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Caliente | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Jackpot | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Round Mountain | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Crystal Bay | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Stateline | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Incline Village | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Gardnerville | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Minden | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Silver Springs | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Virginia City | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Laughlin | $12.00 | $12.00 |
Threshold For Employees Exempt
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) has divided the country’s workforce into two primary categories: exempt and non-exempt employees.
- Non-exempt employees are low-wage workers who depend on their state’s minimum wage laws to earn a livelihood. They are entitled to overtime pay as stated by the laws of Nevada.
- Exempt employees are those who draw a regular salary from their employers, which is higher than the state’s minimum wage rates. Ideally, they must earn $43,888 per annum or $844 per week in 2024 to qualify as exempt employees.
An increase in minimum wage rates directly impacts the overall earnings of non-exempt employees and raises employer labor costs. However, the effect on exempt employees is minimal. A change can push employers of exempt workers to increase their salaries to maintain a distinction in pay based on roles and responsibilities.
Historical Data of Nevada Minimum Wages
From the beginning, the minimum wage has been a key concern in Nevada, reflecting the state’s economic development and the evolving needs of its workforce. The state has witnessed multiple legislative adjustments, economic shifts, and continuous efforts to ensure fair compensation for workers.
Initially, Nevada adopted the federal minimum wage law, ensuring a wage of $1 per hour in 1967. A major shift occurred in 2006 with the introduction of a two-tiered system, which offered different rates for employers based on whether they provided health insurance. This system also allowed for automatic wage adjustments tied to the federal minimum wage and cost-of-living increases.
Between 2010 and 2018, the minimum wage rose further, reaching $7.25 with insurance and $8.25 without. In 2019, the state of Nevada passed Assembly Bill No. 456, which initiated yearly wage increases to reach $11.00 with health benefits and $12.00 without by 2024. The state has since achieved these targets.
The table below provides a detailed view of wage increases between 1968 and 2024.
| Time Period | Year | Minimum Wage (in $) |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 to 1981 | 1968* | 1.25 |
| 1970* | 1.30 | |
| 1972 | 1.60 | |
| 1976* | 2.20 & 2.30 | |
| 1979 | 2.75 | |
| 1980 | 2.75 | |
| 1981 | 2.75 | |
| 1988 to 1998 | 1988 | 3.35 |
| 1991 | 3.80 | |
| 1992 | 4.25 | |
| 1994 | 4.25 | |
| 1996 | 4.25 | |
| 1997 | 4.75 | |
| 1998 | 5.15 | |
| 2000 to 2006 | 2000 | 5.15 |
| 2001 | 5.15 | |
| 2002 | 5.15 | |
| 2003 | 5.15 | |
| 2004 | 5.15 | |
| 2005 | 5.15 | |
| 2006 | 5.15 | |
| 2007 to 2013 | 2007 | 6.15 |
| 2008 | 6.33 | |
| 2009 | 6.55 – 6.85 | |
| 2010 | 6.55 – 7.55 | |
| 2011 | 7.25 – 8.25 | |
| 2012 | 7.25 – 8.25 | |
| 2013 | 7.25 – 8.25 | |
| 2014 to 2019 | 2014 | 7.25 – 8.25 |
| 2015 | 7.25 – 8.25 | |
| 2016 | 7.25 – 8.25 | |
| 2017 | 7.25 – 8.25 | |
| 2018 | 7.25 – 8.25 | |
| 2019 | 7.25 – 8.25 | |
| 2020 to 2023 | 2020 | 8.00 – 9.00 |
| 2021 | 8.75 – 9.75 | |
| 2022 | 9.50/10.50 | |
| 2023 | 10.25/11.25 |
* – Under the FLSA, the two rates shown in 1968, 1970, and 1976 reflect the former multiple-track minimum wage system in effect from 1961 to 1978.
Source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/history
Exemptions in Minimum Wages of Nevada
While the FLSA has established minimum wage and overtime requirements for the state’s employees, certain categories of employees are exempt from these provisions:
- Executive, administrative, and professional (EAP) employees
- Independent contractors, outdoor salespeople earning commissions, and computer employees
- Agricultural and farm workers
- Professionals working in creative fields like art, music, etc.
- Highly compensated employees earning a minimum of $107,432 per annum
