Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Law

Effective January 1, 2007, the minimum wage is $6.25 per hour and increases to $7.15 an hour effective July 1, 2007. Employers with ten or fewer full-time employees will follow a delayed implementation schedule, increasing the minimum wage to $5.65 per hour effective January 1, 2007; $6.65 per hour effective July 1, 2007 and $7.15 per hour effective July 1, 2008. Before January 1, 2007, the minimum wage rate in Pennsylvania is $5.15 per hour.

Effective January 1, 2007, Pennsylvania law provides for a 60-day training wage, based on the federal $5.15-per-hour training wage, for employees under 20 years of age. Upon hiring, employers must notify workers of both the training wage and the workers' right to receive the Pennsylvania minimum wage after 60 calendar days of employment. Other workers may not be displaced to allow hiring of training-wage workers.

All employees are covered by Pennsylvania's minimum wage and overtime law, except the following:

1. farm laborers;
2. domestic servants;
3. persons delivering newspapers to consumers;
4. certain newspaper employees;
5. executives, professionals, administrators and outside salespersons;
6. volunteer educational, religious or charitable workers;
7. certain seasonal employees;
8. employees in certain amusement or recreational establishments;
9. golf caddies;
10. telephone company switchboard operators;
11. employees not subject to civil service laws — elective office holders, their staff members or advisors; and
12. travel time for participants in ridesharing arrangements.