Minimum Wages by State

Budgeting Smarter for Your Next Production

When you’re planning a film, television, or commercial project, accurate labor cost forecasting can make or break your budget. Minimum wage laws vary not only by state but sometimes by city, and knowing the latest figures is critical for producers, line producers, production accountants, and ADs who need to stay compliant while managing costs.

This guide breaks down minimum wage rates and overtime rules across all U.S. states so you can confidently plan cast and crew payroll. Whether you’re shooting a union project, a non-union production, or juggling multi-state locations, understanding wage requirements ensures you avoid costly compliance issues and keep your project running smoothly..


State

Minimum Wage (per hour)

Overtime Trigger

Alabama

$7.25

40 hrs/week (federal)

Alaska

$13.00

8 hrs/day & 40 hrs/week

Arizona

$14.70

40 hrs/week

Arkansas

$11.00

40 hrs/week

California

$16.50

8 hrs/day & 40 hrs/week

Colorado

$14.81

12 hrs/day & 40 hrs/week

Connecticut

$16.35

40 hrs/week

Delaware

$15.00

40 hrs/week

Florida

$13.00

40 hrs/week

Georgia

$7.25

40 hrs/week (federal)

Hawaii

$14.00

40 hrs/week

Idaho

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Illinois

$15.00

40 hrs/week

Indiana

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Iowa

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Kansas

$7.25

46 hrs/week

Kentucky

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Louisiana

$7.25

40 hrs/week (federal)

Maine

$14.65

40 hrs/week

Maryland

$15.00

40 hrs/week

Massachusetts

$15.00

40 hrs/week

Michigan

$12.48

40 hrs/week

Minnesota

$11.13

48 hrs/week

Mississippi

$7.25

40 hrs/week (federal)

Missouri

$13.75

40 hrs/week

Montana

$10.55

40 hrs/week

Nebraska

$13.50

40 hrs/week

Nevada

$12.00

8 hrs/day & 40 hrs/week

New Hampshire

$7.25

40 hrs/week

New Jersey

$15.49

40 hrs/week

New Mexico

$12.00

40 hrs/week

New York

$16.50

40 hrs/week

North Carolina

$7.25

40 hrs/week

North Dakota

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Ohio

$10.70

40 hrs/week

Oklahoma

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Oregon

$15.05

40 hrs/week

Pennsylvania

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Rhode Island

$15.00

40 hrs/week

South Carolina

$7.25

40 hrs/week (federal)

South Dakota

$11.50

40 hrs/week

Tennessee

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Texas

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Utah

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Vermont

$14.01

40 hrs/week

Virginia

$12.41

40 hrs/week

Washington

$16.66

40 hrs/week

West Virginia

$8.75

40 hrs/week

Wisconsin

$7.25

40 hrs/week

Wyoming

$7.25

40 hrs/week (state $5.15)

Navigating Payroll with Confidence

As wage laws continue to evolve, producers and accountants face increasing pressure to stay compliant while managing complex budgets. Having the right information is the first step, but having the right payroll partner ensures peace of mind.

At Topsheet, we act as the Employer of Record for productions across the U.S., handling payroll, taxes, and union rules so you can focus on the creative side of filmmaking. From onboarding cast and crew to processing timecards and issuing payments, our platform simplifies the entire payroll process.

If you have questions about wage compliance or want a streamlined way to manage entertainment payroll, reach out to team@topsheet.io. We’ll help you keep your project on budget and your crew paid accurately and on time.

Do you have questions or need help?

If you have questions or want to get your project started with Topsheet, click here, and a real human on our team will help you out, no talking to bots!

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