Pennsylvania minimum wage 2027: stays $7.25 an hour

Pennsylvania minimum wage 2027: no increase scheduled in 2027: the federal $7.25 per hour (PA L&I minimum wage report 2025; U.S. DOL state table). Verified Nov 12, 2026 on two official pages.

“As of July 24, 2009, Pennsylvania raised the minimum wage from $7.15 to $7.25 an hour, as provided by the amended Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This change was made to match the corresponding federal minimum wage rate increase in 2009 (from $6.55 to $7.25), and the minimum wage rate has remained at $7.25 since that time.”

Second official source: “Pennsylvania Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $7.25” (U.S. DOL state table).

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What changes for Pennsylvania employers in 2027

Rate in force now: Pennsylvania minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws (Pennsylvania); Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Wage FAQs (Minimum Wage Act); verified Sep 27, 2026).

Other Pennsylvania minimum rates

• Tipped employees (cash wage with tip credit): “If the employer takes a tip credit, it must pay Sofia not less than $2.83 per hour in cash wages; with tips, Sofia must still make at least the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.” (PA L&I tipped worker rules)
• Learners and students (special certificates): “Provided, That the minimum wage prescribed under this subsection (b) shall not be less than eighty-five percent of the otherwise applicable wage rate in effect under section 4.” (Minimum Wage Act of 1968 (PA Gen. Assembly))

How we checked that nothing changes in 2027

• The Minimum Wage Act as published by the Pennsylvania General Assembly ends its own schedule at $7.15 (July 1, 2007) and follows any higher federal rate, so the federal $7.25 applies; it has no 2027 step and no indexing (Minimum Wage Act of 1968 (PA Gen. Assembly)).
• HB 2189, the 2026 bill to raise the minimum wage, passed the House on March 24, 2026 (104-95) but on November 12, 2026 is still in the Senate Labor & Industry Committee: it has not been passed by the Senate or signed, so it is not law (PA General Assembly, HB 2189).
• The Department of State lists the state-level contests of the November 3, 2026 general election as races for office only (Governor/Lieutenant Governor, U.S. House, state Senate and House): no statewide ballot question, so none about the minimum wage (PA Department of State).
• The Department of Labor & Industry still gives $7.25 as the Pennsylvania minimum wage on November 12, 2026 (PA L&I Wage FAQs).

Paying the minimum wage in Pennsylvania: paydays, final pay and breaks

• Paydays (employer designated): Pennsylvania sets no fixed pay frequency: wages must be paid on regular paydays designated in advance by the employer. (U.S. DOL WHD, State Payday Requirements; Wage Payment and Collection Law (Act of 1961, P.L. 637, No. 329), Section 3(a); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Final pay after a firing: When an employer separates an employee from the payroll, earned wages are due no later than the next regular payday. (Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law, Act of July 14, 1961, P.L. 637, No. 329, Section 5(a) (43 P.S. § 260.5); Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Wage FAQs; verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Final pay after a resignation: When an employee quits or resigns, earned wages are due no later than the next regular payday. (Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law, Act of July 14, 1961, P.L. 637, No. 329, Section 5(a) (43 P.S. § 260.5); Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Wage FAQs; verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Meal breaks: No general state meal break requirement for adult employees (18 and over) in private employment; separate rules apply to minors and to seasonal farm workers. (U.S. DOL WHD, Meal Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector; Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Wage FAQs; verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Meal breaks (seasonal farm workers): Seasonal farm workers may not be required to work more than 5 hours continuously without a meal or rest period of at least 30 minutes. (U.S. DOL WHD, Meal Period table, footnote 2; Pennsylvania Seasonal Farm Labor Act, Act of 1978, No. 93, Section 207(c) (text published on pa.gov); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Rest breaks: No state rest break requirement for adult employees (18 and over) in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector; Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Wage FAQs; verified Sep 27, 2026)

Every verified rule for the state, with the law cited: Pennsylvania employer rulebook.

Exempt salary threshold in 2027: Federal $684 a week ($35,568 a year); no higher state threshold found (U.S. DOL thresholds page; eCFR 29 CFR 541.600) Verified Oct 21, 2026

Each change with its official text: Pennsylvania rules.

Pennsylvania minimum wage rates: now, 2027 and next

Earlier rates (Minimum Wage Act § 4(a)), as the official page lists them: “(6) Five dollars fifteen cents ($5.15) an hour beginning September 1, 1997. (7) Six dollars twenty-five cents ($6.25) an hour beginning January 1, 2007. (8) Seven dollars fifteen cents ($7.15) an hour beginning July 1, 2007.” (Minimum Wage Act of 1968 (PA Gen. Assembly)).

How the next Pennsylvania rate is set

“the minimum wage required under this section shall be increased by the same amounts and effective the same date as the increases under the Fair Labor Standards Act” (Minimum Wage Act of 1968, § 4(a.1), Pennsylvania General Assembly)

2027 minimum wage: Pennsylvania and neighboring states

Each state links to its rulebook, and to its own 2027 minimum wage page where we have one. The same rows, for every state, are in the 2027 table by state.

How to act on it

Full-time pay at the rate in 2027 (computed: hourly rate × 40 hours a week and × 2,080 hours a year, before taxes): $7.25 = $290.00 a week, $15,080 a year.

Questions about the Pennsylvania minimum wage in 2027

Sources (21)

• PA L&I minimum wage report 2025
• U.S. DOL state table
• U.S. DOL thresholds page
• eCFR 29 CFR 541.600
• Minimum Wage Act of 1968 (PA Gen. Assembly)
• PA General Assembly, HB 2189
• PA Department of State
• PA L&I Wage FAQs
• U.S. DOL WHD, State Payday Requirements
• Wage Payment and Collection Law (Act of 1961, P.L. 637, No. 329), Section 3(a)
• U.S. DOL WHD, Meal Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector
• Pennsylvania Seasonal Farm Labor Act, Act of 1978, No. 93, Section 207(c) (text published on pa.gov)
• U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector
• PA L&I tipped worker rules
• U.S. DOL minimum wage page
• 29 U.S.C. §206 (govinfo)
• NY DOL minimum wage page
• NJDOL Wage and Hour employer FAQ
• Delaware DOL Wage & Hour page
• Md. Lab. & Empl. §3-413 (MGA)
• Ohio Commerce news, Sep. 30, 2026

Checked Nov 12, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error

Where this goes next

StatePennsylvania employer rulebookAll 51 statesMinimum wage by state 20272027Every Pennsylvania change in 2027ToolHourly to salary calculator