Utah Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25 an Hour, Tips and Youth Rate

The Utah Labor Commission states that the minimum wage in Utah is $7.25 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage. Utah's Minimum Wage Act excludes employees entitled to the FLSA minimum, so the federal law governs most Utah workers, and Utah localities may not set a higher rate.

Information last verified on September 28, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This page covers the Utah Minimum Wage Act (Utah Code Title 34, Chapter 40) and the federal FLSA that governs most Utah workers. It does not cover overtime detail, Utah's Payment of Wages Act beyond a pointer, or any other state.

What is the Utah minimum wage?

The Utah Labor Commission states: "The minimum wage in Utah is $7.25 per hour." That equals the federal minimum wage under 29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)(C).

Utah Code 34-40-103 lets the Labor Commission set the minimum wage by rule and provides that it may not exceed the federal minimum wage in effect at the time of implementation of this section; the Commission reviews the rate at least every three years and whenever the federal wage changes. The statute's own figure is $3.80 per hour, effective April 1, 1990 (34-40-103(1)(b)); after July 1, 1990 the Commission may set the rate by rule (34-40-103(2)(a)). The Commission's own $7.25 statement is the source used here for the current rate.

Nothing reviewed schedules a change on January 1, 2027. The federal rate changes only if Congress passes a bill and the President signs it. See the federal minimum wage page.

Why the federal law governs most Utah workers

Utah Code 34-40-104(1) provides that the Utah minimum wage does not apply to an employee entitled to a minimum wage under the FLSA. Other exclusions include outside salespeople, immediate family, companionship services, casual and domestic employees, certain nonprofit seasonal employees, federal employees, prisoners, certain agricultural employees, registered apprentices or students employed by their school, and certain seasonal amusement employees. Section 34-40-104 also allows lower wages for some workers with disabilities and for learners in their first 160 hours. DOL's state table likewise notes that Utah's law excludes FLSA-covered employment.

The FLSA covers employees of enterprises with at least $500,000 in annual sales or business done, and employees of smaller firms engaged in interstate commerce (DOL FAQ; 29 U.S.C. 203(s)(1)(A)). It also covers employees of hospitals, schools and government agencies (DOL FAQ). In practice the federal $7.25 is what most workers are owed, and the higher standard controls (29 U.S.C. 218(a)).

Tipped workers in Utah

The Labor Commission says tipped employees, adults and minors, may be paid $2.13 per hour, but only so long as the tips they earn plus the base wage equal or exceed the minimum wage. DOL's tipped table lists a $2.13 cash wage and a $5.12 maximum credit for Utah, and an employer may not keep employees' tips (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(B)).

Youth rate

The Labor Commission page says minors under 18 must be paid minimum wage, but an employer may pay a minor $4.25 per hour during the first 90 days of employment. The federal youth wage in 29 U.S.C. 206(g) applies to newly hired employees under age 20 for the first 90 consecutive calendar days, if the work does not displace other workers, so an FLSA-covered employer may use the federal rule for an 18- or 19-year-old.

Can Utah cities set a higher minimum wage?

No. Utah Code 34-40-106(1) says a city, town or county may not establish, mandate or require a minimum wage that exceeds the federal minimum wage, and subsection (2) applies the same limit to contractors with the locality, with an exception for federally funded projects. Salt Lake City and other Utah localities have no separate minimum wage.

How to file a minimum wage or wage claim in Utah

The Utah Labor Commission's Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division (UALD) says: "If you have a dispute over wages with your employer, you may file a wage claim with the Wage Claim Unit." The page adds that the Payment of Wages Act makes it illegal for an employer to retaliate against an employee for filing a complaint with UALD. The Commission says it handles wage claims of $50 to $10,000 for private-sector workers, and that minors who were not paid the minimum wage can file under the Payment of Wages Act. Start on the Labor Commission wage claim page.

Utah Code 34-40-202 lets the division enforce the chapter and impose a penalty of up to $500 per violation, and 34-40-204 makes a violation an infraction, a second violation a class C misdemeanor and a third a class B misdemeanor. Under Utah Code 34-40-205, an employee may also sue to recover the difference between the wage paid and the minimum wage, plus interest, and may seek an injunction. The court may award costs and attorney fees to the prevailing party, and the suit must be brought within two years of the violation.

For FLSA-covered workers, DOL takes complaints at 1-866-487-9243. An employer that violates the federal minimum wage owes unpaid wages plus an equal amount as liquidated damages (29 U.S.C. 216(b)), a suit generally must start within two years, or three for a willful violation (29 U.S.C. 255(a)), and 29 U.S.C. 215(a)(3) bars retaliation. See Utah final paycheck laws and unpaid wages.

Disclaimer: This page is general legal information, not legal advice. It covers the Utah Minimum Wage Act and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as verified on September 28, 2026. For a specific pay situation, consult a lawyer licensed in Utah or the state labor agency.

Related pages

• Federal minimum wage rules
• Utah final paycheck laws
• Utah at-will employment laws
• Unpaid wages and how to claim them
• Overtime calculator

Last updated: September 28, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage in Utah in 2026?

The Utah Labor Commission states it is $7.25 per hour, matching the federal minimum wage.

Will Utah's minimum wage go up in 2027?

Nothing reviewed schedules a change. The Utah act does not apply to FLSA-covered workers, so the federal rate is the one that matters for most workers, and it changes only if Congress enacts a new rate.

What is the Utah tipped minimum wage?

The Labor Commission says tipped employees may be paid $2.13 per hour only if their tips plus that base wage equal or exceed the minimum wage.

Can Utah employers pay teenagers less than minimum wage?

The Labor Commission says an employer may pay a minor $4.25 per hour during the first 90 days of employment. Federal law allows the same rate for a newly hired employee under 20, without displacing other workers.

Can Salt Lake City set its own minimum wage?

No. Utah Code 34-40-106 bars a city, town or county from requiring a minimum wage above the federal minimum wage.

Who files a wage complaint in Utah?

The Utah Labor Commission's Wage Claim Unit takes wage disputes. FLSA-covered workers can also call the U.S. Department of Labor at 1-866-487-9243.

Can I sue my Utah employer for unpaid minimum wage?

Yes. Under Utah Code 34-40-205, an employee may bring a civil action to recover the difference between the wage paid and the minimum wage, plus interest, and may seek an injunction. The court may award costs and attorney fees to the prevailing party, and the action must be brought within two years of the violation. FLSA-covered workers also have a federal claim under 29 U.S.C. 216(b).