Minimum wage in West Virginia
West Virginia's basic minimum wage is $8.75 an hour (applicable to employers of 6 or more employees at one location). That is $1.50 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.62 and count tips toward the rest, with a tip credit of up to $6.13. Against West Virginia's $8.75 floor for FLSA-covered employers, among its 5 neighbors Maryland ($15.00), Virginia ($12.77) and Ohio ($11.00) are higher and Kentucky ($7.25) and Pennsylvania ($7.25) are lower.
Verified against the U.S. Department of Labor on (DOL's state table updated ). Source: State Minimum Wage Laws, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees.
At a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| State minimum wage | $8.75 |
| Against the federal $7.25 | $1.50 above federal |
| Floor for FLSA-covered employers | $8.75 (the higher of the state and federal rates) |
| Scheduled change | None listed by DOL |
| Overtime threshold in state law | Weekly - 40 |
| Tipped cash wage | $2.62 |
| Maximum tip credit | 70% of the applicable minimum wage ($6.13) |
Rates as DOL lists them
| Rate per hour | Applies to |
|---|---|
| $8.75 | Applicable to employers of 6 or more employees at one location |
Premium pay after designated hours: Weekly - 40. DOL footnote 1: The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
Scheduled increases
DOL lists no scheduled increase and no indexing formula for West Virginia. A change would require new legislation or a ballot measure.
Tipped employees
West Virginia requires a cash wage above the federal tipped minimum of $2.13; the employer may count tips toward the rest, up to the tip credit shown.
| Row | Combined cash and tip minimum | Maximum tip credit | Minimum cash wage | Tipped employee defined by monthly tips of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $8.75 | 70% of the applicable minimum wage ($6.13) | $2.62 | Not specified |
- DOL footnote 10: West Virginia. The state minimum wage law applies only to employers with six or more employees and to state agencies.
A dash means DOL left the cell blank. DOL's general footnote 1: Other additional deductions are permitted, for example for meals and lodging.
Neighbors and the federal floor
| State | State rate | Floor for FLSA-covered employers |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $8.75 |
| Maryland | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $12.77 |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $11.00 |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Federal (FLSA) | $7.25 | $7.25 |
More than one law can apply
DOL states that where federal, state and local minimum wage laws all cover an employer, the employer must pay the highest applicable rate. Whether a particular job is covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, by West Virginia's law, or by a city or county ordinance depends on facts this site does not assess. City and county rates are not in DOL's table and are not shown here. This page describes published rates and is not legal advice; for how to raise an underpayment, see FastGuide.
Take-home pay and benefits calculators for West Virginia
FastCalc, a sister site, has these calculators for West Virginia. Each takes your own figures; this site computes nothing.
Related
- West Virginia wage profile: what occupations actually pay in West Virginia, from BLS data.
- Minimum wage by state and the federal minimum wage.
- Federal versus state minimum wage and tipped wages and tip credits.
- Take-home pay calculator on FastCalc for what $8.75 an hour leaves after withholding; this site computes nothing.