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Houston, Texas · OFFICIAL SOURCES & THRESHOLDS

Houston, Texas
Minimum wage.

Check official requirements, employee thresholds, effective dates, and employer responsibilities for minimum wage.

Notice: General informational guidance, not legal advice. Read the full legal disclaimer. Federal, state, and municipal regulations operate concurrently.
Part of Texas Employment Compliance

Municipal ordinances operate concurrently with state and federal labor laws.

Texas Minimum wage → All Texas Rules →

Separate Houston rules

No separate Houston rule is published yet for minimum wage. The state rule shown below applies unless a different local requirement is verified and published. Do not treat the state figure as a Houston figure.

Applicable state and federal rules

These are state or federal requirements that may also apply within Houston. Each entry remains labeled with its own jurisdiction and source.

Minimum wage · United StatesChanged recently

United States minimum wage

$7.25 per hour

The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in United States · All industries
Effective
Jul 24, 2009
Official source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.
Minimum wage · TexasChanged recently

Texas minimum wage

$7.25 per hour (federal minimum wage)

Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The Texas state minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums; the state adopts the federal minimum wage rate by reference (U.S. Department of Labor).

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in Texas · All industries
Effective
Jan 1, 2026

Local notes & what to do

Texas adds very little to federal wage law: the state minimum wage adopts the federal $7.25, and overtime, exempt status and tipped pay all follow the FLSA. The state's own rules concentrate on paydays - the Texas Payday Law sets a strict final-pay deadline of six calendar days for discharged employees. A 2023 state law (HB 2127) stops Texas cities from passing their own paid sick leave ordinances, which ended the Austin, Dallas and San Antonio efforts.

Official source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.

City, state, and federal: which rate wins?

The highest applicable minimum wage generally governs; coverage, industry, and employee headcount thresholds still matter. There is no single winning rate for every employer.

Compare every applicable layer in the threshold table below. Use the checker to filter by your business size and industry.

Thresholds, dates & upcoming changes

Jurisdiction / rule Requirement Employees / industry Effective / status Official source / last checked
United States
United States minimum wage 		$7.25 per hour 0–any employees
All industries 		Jul 24, 2009
Current 		U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act
Checked Nov 1, 2026
Texas
Texas minimum wage 		$7.25 per hour (federal minimum wage) 0–any employees
All industries 		Jan 1, 2026
Current 		U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table
Checked Nov 1, 2026
THE DATED RECORD

What changed in Houston, Texas?

Texas · Minimum wage

Local guidance changed from not previously published to Texas adds very little to federal wage law: the state minimum wage adopts the federal $7.25, and overtime, exempt status and tipped pay all follow the FLSA. The state's own rules concentrate on paydays - the Texas Payday Law sets a strict final-pay deadline of six calendar days for discharged employees. A 2023 state law (HB 2127) stops Texas cities from passing their own paid sick leave ordinances, which ended the Austin, Dallas and San Antonio efforts..

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table · Effective Jan 1, 2026 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026 · View current requirement →

United States · Minimum wage

Rule name changed from not previously published to United States minimum wage. Summary changed from not previously published to The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).. Requirement changed from not previously published to $7.25 per hour. Numeric amount changed from not previously published to 7.25. Minimum employer size changed from not previously published to 0 employees. Effective date changed from not previously published to Jul 24, 2009. Publication status changed from not previously published to active. Industry coverage changed from not previously published to not published.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act · Effective Jul 24, 2009 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026

Texas · Minimum wage

Rule name changed from not previously published to Texas minimum wage. Summary changed from not previously published to Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The Texas state minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums; the state adopts the federal minimum wage rate by reference (U.S. Department of Labor).. Requirement changed from not previously published to $7.25 per hour (federal minimum wage). Numeric amount changed from not previously published to 7.25. Effective date changed from not previously published to Jan 1, 2026. Publication status changed from not previously published to active. Minimum employer size changed from not previously published to 0 employees. Industry coverage changed from not previously published to not published.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table · Effective Jan 1, 2026 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026 · View current requirement →
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions employers ask about Minimum wage in Houston, Texas

What is the United States minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$7.25 per hour. The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).

When did United States minimum wage take effect?

Effective July 24, 2009. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow United States minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in United States across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating United States minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

What is the Texas minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$7.25 per hour (federal minimum wage). Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The Texas state minimum wage law does not contain current dollar minimums; the state adopts the federal minimum wage rate by reference (U.S. Department of Labor).

When did Texas minimum wage take effect?

Effective January 1, 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow Texas minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in Texas across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating Texas minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

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Tipped wage ↗ Overtime ↗ Exempt salary threshold ↗ Paid sick leave ↗ Paid family & medical leave ↗ Meal & rest breaks ↗ Final paycheck ↗ Pay frequency ↗ Pay transparency ↗ Salary history bans ↗ AI hiring rules ↗ Background checks ↗ Workplace posters ↗ Record keeping ↗ New-hire reporting ↗

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