Texas Salary Laws In 2026: Your Complete Wage Protection Guide

Most people don’t fully understand their salary rights in Texas. Honestly, a lot of workers just accept whatever they’re offered without knowing what employers are legally required to pay. But here’s the thing: Texas has specific wage laws designed to protect you. Let’s break down exactly what you need to know so you can confidently understand your paycheck.

Whether you’re starting a new job or questioning your current salary, understanding Texas wage laws matters. You deserve to know what you’re legally entitled to earn.

What Are Salary and Wage Laws?

Wage laws are rules about how much money employers must pay you. Think of them like a safety net for workers. These laws set minimum amounts, determine how overtime works, and protect you from unfair pay practices.

In Texas, wage laws come from two main sources. The federal government sets baseline rules through the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Texas also has its own state laws that protect workers. Sometimes the more generous rule applies to you, which is good news.

Here’s what matters: these laws apply to almost everyone who works in Texas. Whether you’re full-time, part-time, or a contractor doing gig work, wage laws likely affect you in some way.

Texas Minimum Wage Laws

The Basic Rule

Hold on, this part is important. Texas doesn’t have its own state minimum wage. Seriously. This means the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour applies in Texas. That’s been the rate since 2009, which honestly feels outdated to many people.

Your employer must pay you at least $7.25 for every hour you work. There are almost no exceptions to this rule. Even if you’re a brand-new employee with zero experience, you still get this minimum protection.

Who Must Earn Minimum Wage?

Not sure who this applies to? Pretty much everyone. Most employees in Texas are covered by minimum wage laws. This includes retail workers, restaurant staff, warehouse employees, and office workers. The law doesn’t care what job you do.

There are only a few narrow exceptions. Certain family farm workers, some seasonal workers, and a small number of apprentices might fall outside these protections. But for the vast majority of Texas workers, minimum wage is your legal floor.

What About Tipped Employees?

Okay, this one gets tricky. If you work at a restaurant or bar, your situation might be different. Employers can pay tipped employees as little as $2.13 per hour if tips bring your total earnings to at least $7.25 per hour.

Let’s say you earn $2.13 an hour plus tips. If your tips only add up to $4 per hour, your employer must make up the difference. You’re still protected and guaranteed the $7.25 minimum. Employers can’t just keep you at $2.13 if tips don’t reach the minimum.

Overtime Laws in Texas

How Overtime Works

Time to talk about overtime. If you work more than 40 hours in a single week, federal law requires overtime pay. In Texas, you’re entitled to time-and-a-half for those extra hours. That means 1.5 times your regular hourly rate.

Let’s use an example. Say you make $10 per hour and work 45 hours in a week. Your first 40 hours are paid at the regular rate ($400). Your extra 5 hours are paid at $15 each ($75). Total pay for that week is $475 before taxes.

This applies to most employees in Texas. Daily overtime doesn’t exist in Texas law, even if you work 12 hours in one day. What matters is your total hours for the entire week.

Who Gets Overtime?

Not everyone qualifies for overtime. This is where it gets important. Salaried employees often don’t get overtime pay. Managers, supervisors, and professionals with certain job duties may be exempt.

Your job title doesn’t determine this though. What matters is what you actually do every day. If you manage other employees or make independent decisions about company policy, you might be exempt. But if you mostly follow instructions and do hands-on work, you probably qualify for overtime.

Calculating Your Overtime Pay

Wondering how much overtime pay you should get? Here’s the breakdown. Your overtime rate is always 1.5 times your regular hourly rate. Don’t get confused by weekly salary amounts. Calculate your hourly rate first, then multiply by 1.5 for overtime hours.

Your employer must include overtime pay in your regular paycheck. They can’t delay it or pay it separately in some future check. Overtime pay due to you is money you’ve already earned.

Salary and Exempt Employee Rules

Who Is Exempt From Overtime?

This one’s probably the most confusing part. Some employees are “exempt” from overtime laws. These workers don’t get overtime pay no matter how many hours they work. It sounds unfair, and honestly, many people feel it is. But it’s legal in Texas.

To be exempt, you must meet specific criteria. You generally need to earn a certain minimum salary, which is $35,568 per year (as of recent federal guidelines). Your job duties also matter. You typically need to supervise others, make important decisions, or work in an executive or professional capacity.

Many employers mistakenly claim employees are exempt when they’re not. If your boss calls you “salaried” but you don’t actually meet these requirements, you might be entitled to overtime pay anyway. This happens more often than you’d think.

Common Misclassifications

I see this situation a lot: an employer pays someone a salary and then claims they don’t get overtime. But here’s the reality. Just being paid a salary doesn’t make you exempt. Your actual job duties determine your exempt status, not your pay method.

For example, a store manager who makes $600 per week might think they’re exempt. But if they spend most of their time doing cashier work instead of managing, they may actually be entitled to overtime. Job title matters less than what you actually do.

If you suspect you’re misclassified, document your daily tasks. Keep track of when you supervise others and when you do regular work. This information becomes important if you ever need to challenge your classification.

Salary Payment and Payday Requirements

When You Must Get Paid

Here’s what you need to know about payment timing. Your employer must pay you regularly for all hours worked. Most employers in Texas pay employees weekly or biweekly. Some pay monthly, but that’s less common.

Your paycheck can’t be unreasonably delayed. If you work a week of hours, you should receive that pay within a reasonable time. Generally, the next pay period is considered reasonable.

Final Paycheck Rules

Leaving your job? You need to know about final paychecks. In Texas, employers must pay you all wages owed when you leave, including accrued vacation. The timing depends on whether you quit or were fired.

If you’re fired, your employer must give you your final check promptly. If you quit, technically employers have until the next regular payday. But honestly, most employers pay immediately to avoid complications.

Deductions From Your Paycheck

Confused about all those deductions on your paycheck? Some are required by law. Taxes, Social Security, and Medicare deductions are standard. Your employer must take these out.

Other deductions need your permission. Uniforms, tools, or damage charges can’t automatically come out of your paycheck without your agreement. Even if you authorize a deduction, it can’t reduce your pay below minimum wage for that work week.

Wage Theft and Unpaid Wages

What Counts as Wage Theft

Stay with me here, because this matters. Wage theft means your employer fails to pay you what you’ve earned. It includes not paying overtime, making unauthorized deductions, or changing pay rates without notice.

Some wage theft is obvious. Your employer simply doesn’t pay you for hours worked. Other wage theft is sneakier. Misclassifying you as exempt, requiring unpaid work before or after shifts, or forcing you to buy company merchandise all count.

Wage theft happens more often than most people realize. A 2022 study found that low-wage workers in Texas lose billions annually to wage theft. You’re not alone if this happens to you.

How to Document Wage Theft

Want to protect yourself? Keep detailed records. Write down your hours worked each day. Take photos of time clocks or your schedule. Save pay stubs and compare them to your records.

If something seems wrong with your paycheck, investigate immediately. Compare your hours worked to hours paid. Calculate what you should have earned versus what you received. Small differences add up over time.

Recent Changes and Updates

What’s New in 2025 and 2026

As of my knowledge cutoff in January 2025, the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour. Texas hasn’t increased its minimum wage because it uses the federal rate. No major Texas wage law changes happened recently, but this can change.

Several states around Texas have raised their minimum wages. If this becomes a trend, Texas might eventually follow. Keep an eye on what other states do, as it sometimes influences Texas policy.

The landscape for wage laws continues evolving. Gig economy work, remote jobs, and contractor status raise new questions. Courts and lawmakers are still figuring out how traditional wage laws apply to these new work arrangements.

Penalties for Wage Law Violations

What Happens to Employers Who Violate Wage Laws

Now here’s where it gets serious. Employers who break wage laws face real consequences. The Texas Workforce Commission can investigate complaints and force employers to pay what they owe.

Employees can also sue employers for unpaid wages. You’re entitled to recover all wages you didn’t receive, plus penalties. In many cases, you can recover twice the amount owed. That’s called “liquidated damages,” and it’s designed to punish employers who steal wages.

Your attorney fees might be covered too. This means if you win a wage case, the employer often pays for your lawyer. This encourages workers to pursue legitimate wage claims.

Criminal Penalties

Wait, it gets better. Employers can face criminal charges for wage theft in severe cases. If an employer deliberately withholds your entire paycheck or engages in pattern wage theft, they might face criminal prosecution. This is less common but does happen in serious situations.

How to Report Wage Law Violations

Reporting to the State

If your employer violates wage laws, you can file a complaint. The Texas Workforce Commission handles wage claims. You can file online, by mail, or in person at your local office. The process is free.

When you file, document everything. Include your name, employer name, dates of violations, and specific amounts owed. Attach pay stubs and any written communications with your employer. The more detailed your complaint, the stronger your case.

Filing a Lawsuit

You don’t have to wait for the government to act. You can hire a lawyer and sue your employer directly. Many employment lawyers work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless you win.

In a lawsuit, you can recover unpaid wages, penalties, and attorney fees. The process takes time, usually several months to a couple of years. But many people find it worthwhile when significant money is at stake.

Talking to an Employment Lawyer

Honestly, if you’ve experienced wage theft or violations, talking to an employment lawyer makes sense. Many offer free initial consultations. A lawyer can review your situation and explain your options.

You don’t need to be certain a violation occurred. If something feels wrong with your paycheck, a lawyer can evaluate it. They can also explain whether the effort to recover wages is worthwhile in your situation.

Special Situations and Exceptions

Agricultural Workers

Farm and agricultural workers have different protections in some cases. Certain farmworkers are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements. This exemption applies mainly to small family farms and specific agricultural settings.

If you work in agriculture in Texas, ask your employer about your coverage. You might still be protected even if you’re on a farm. The rules are complex, so getting clarification helps.

Independent Contractors

Not an employee? Then wage laws might not protect you fully. Independent contractors don’t get the same protections as regular employees. This is increasingly relevant as gig work expands.

The distinction between contractor and employee matters legally. Just because your employer calls you a contractor doesn’t make it true. Texas courts look at factors like control, independence, and the nature of work. Misclassifying you as a contractor to avoid paying overtime happens frequently.

Salaried Employees

Salaried employees have it good in some ways and complicated in others. You know your paycheck amount each week, which provides stability. But you don’t automatically get overtime pay just because you’re salaried.

That’s actually the trickiest part. Many salaried workers assume they don’t get overtime. But if your job duties don’t qualify you as exempt, you’re entitled to overtime for hours over 40 per week. Don’t assume you’re automatically exempt just because you earn a salary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the minimum wage in Texas right now? The minimum wage in Texas is $7.25 per hour, which is the federal minimum. Texas doesn’t have its own higher state minimum wage. Your employer must pay you at least this amount for every hour worked.

Am I entitled to overtime if I’m salaried? Not automatically. Being salaried doesn’t make you exempt from overtime. Your actual job duties determine overtime eligibility. If you supervise others and make independent decisions, you might be exempt. If you mostly do hands-on work, you likely qualify for overtime regardless of your salary status.

Can my employer deduct uniform costs from my paycheck? Only with your written permission. Even with permission, deductions can’t reduce your pay below minimum wage. If uniform costs drop your hourly rate below $7.25, the deduction is illegal.

What should I do if my employer doesn’t pay me on time? Document everything immediately. Keep records of hours worked and what you were paid. Contact your employer in writing, asking for payment. If they don’t pay, file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission or consult an employment lawyer.

How much can I recover if my employer stole wages? You can recover all unpaid wages plus penalties. In many cases, you can recover double the amount owed as liquidated damages. You might also recover attorney fees if you hire a lawyer and win your case.

Final Thoughts

You now understand the basics of Texas salary laws. You know the minimum wage rules, how overtime works, and what happens when employers violate these laws. That’s valuable knowledge many workers don’t have.

Remember this: wage laws exist to protect you. Your employer isn’t doing you a favor by paying you fairly. They’re following the law. If something feels wrong about your paycheck, trust that instinct and look into it.

Keep records of your hours and pay. Understand your job classification. Don’t assume you’re automatically exempt from overtime just because you’re salaried or your boss says so. When in doubt, ask an employment lawyer. Many offer free consultations, and that advice could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Stay informed, stay alert, and know your rights. You’ve got this.