Louisiana Minimum Wage 2026
Last updated: · Source: Louisiana Department of Labor
Louisiana · Minimum Wage 2026
Effective 2009-07-24
Data last verified: 2026-07-09
Tipped Rate
$2.13/hr
Tip Credit
$5.12/hr
Exempt Salary
$684/wk
Effective Date
2009-07-24
Louisiana Wage Calculator
Current Louisiana Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Louisiana is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-24. Louisiana follows the federal minimum wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which has remained at $7.25/hr since 2009. See the federal minimum wage page for how the FLSA floor applies nationwide.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay the highest minimum wage that legally applies to a work location, whether set federally, by the state, or by a city or county ordinance.
Louisiana Tipped Minimum Wage
In Louisiana, tipped employees may be paid a direct cash wage of $2.13/hr. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12/hr, but the employee's total hourly earnings (direct wages + tips) must equal at least the full minimum wage of $7.25/hr. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
| Component | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cash wage | $2.13/hr | Minimum employer must pay directly |
| Tip credit | $5.12/hr | Maximum credit employer may claim |
| Total required | $7.25/hr | Wages + tips must reach this floor |
Louisiana Exempt Employee Salary Threshold (2026)
An "exempt" employee is a salaried worker who, by law, isn't entitled to overtime pay (time-and-a-half) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Whether a salaried employee actually qualifies as exempt depends on both their pay and their job duties. Louisiana follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. To qualify for the white-collar (executive, administrative, or professional) overtime exemption, salaried employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) in 2026.
City & County Minimum Wages in Louisiana
Louisiana Revised Statutes 23:642 prohibits parishes and municipalities from establishing a minimum wage rate that a private employer would be required to pay, different from the state/federal rate.
| City / County | 2026 Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Louisiana's federal-minimum wage rate; state law preempts local minimum wage ordinances. |
| Baton Rouge | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Louisiana's federal-minimum wage rate; state law preempts local minimum wage ordinances. |
| Shreveport | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Louisiana's federal-minimum wage rate; state law preempts local minimum wage ordinances. |
| Lafayette | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Louisiana's federal-minimum wage rate; state law preempts local minimum wage ordinances. |
Louisiana Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in Louisiana over the past several years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $7.25/hr | 2009-07-24 | |
| 2020 | $7.25/hr | 2009-07-24 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in Louisiana is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-24. Tipped employees may be paid $2.13 per hour provided tips bring total earnings to at least $7.25/hr.
Louisiana has no state minimum wage law; employers must pay the federal rate of $7.25/hr, unchanged since 2009, with no change in 2026. A 2026 bill (HB 353) to create a state minimum wage was rejected by committee.
In Louisiana, tipped employees must be paid at least $2.13 per hour directly. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12/hr, but total compensation including tips must reach $7.25/hr.
Louisiana follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. Salaried exempt employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) to qualify for the white-collar overtime exemption in 2026.
Louisiana Revised Statutes 23:642 prohibits parishes and municipalities from establishing a minimum wage rate that a private employer would be required to pay, different from the state/federal rate.