As of 2024, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, which is the federal minimum wage. This applies to most workers in the state, but there are some exceptions. For example, tipped workers and trainees (under specific categories) may have different wage conditions.
For overtime employees, employers in Kentucky must pay you extra for working more than 40 hours (about 3 days) a week or on the seventh day of work.
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Kentucky State Minimum Wage for 2025
As of 2024, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, which is the federal minimum wage. This applies to most workers in the state, but there are some exceptions. For example, tipped workers and trainees (under specific categories) may have different wage conditions.
Some cities or regions in Kentucky State have their own minimum wage laws that are higher than the state’s. So, if you work in one of these areas, you’ll earn more than the state minimum wage. Jefferson, Fayette, Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro, and Covington have a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. However, Boone County has a higher minimum wage of $16.20 per hour for certain types of work.
For overtime employees, employers in Kentucky must pay you extra for working more than 40 hours (about 3 days) a week or on the seventh day of work
Minimum Wages in Kentucky Cities
The table below lists the minimum wage rate across all cities of Kentucky
City
Non-Tipped Employees
Tipped Employees
Louisville
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Lexington
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Bowling Green
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Owensboro
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Covington
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Georgetown
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Richmond
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Florence
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Elizabethtown
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Nicholasville
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Hopkinsville
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Paducah
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Frankfort
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Corbin
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Pikeville
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Ashland
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Winchester
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Somerset
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Mayfield
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Versailles
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Morehead
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Prestonsburg
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Murray
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Erlanger
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Hazard
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Fort Thomas
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Paris
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Barbourville
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Campbellsville
$7.25/hour
$2.13/hour
Threshold For Employees Exempt
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced new salary thresholds for exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that will also take effect in Kentucky.
Exempt employees are those who are exempt from overtime regulations, paid a salary, and perform administrative, professional, executive, computer, or outside sales work.
Non-exempt employees are those paid hourly, perform more manual or technical duties, and are entitled to overtime pay for any hours worked beyond 40 in a work week.
Here are the updates:
Effective July 1, 2024:
For Executive, Administrative, or Professional Employees, the annual salary threshold will increase from $35,568 to $43,888 (or $844 per week).
For Highly Compensated Employees, the annual salary threshold will increase from $107,432 to $132,964
Effective January 1, 2025:
For Executive, Administrative, or Professional Employees, the annual salary threshold will increase from $43,888 to $58,656 (or $1,128 per week).
For Highly Compensated Employees, the annual salary threshold will increase from $132,964 to $151,164
Employees must meet these salary thresholds and duty tests to be exempt from overtime pay requirements under the FLSA.
Historical Data of Kentucky Minimum Wages
Kentucky has followed the federal minimum wage rates since 1968, with the last increase to $7.25 per hour in 2009. The state has not set its minimum wage rate above the federal level.
Here is a table justifying the minimum wage rates according to the years.
In Kentucky, certain employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Here are some of the main exemptions as of 2024;
Employees working in agriculture are exempt from minimum wage and overtime.
Bona fide executive employees who meet specific criteria, such as managing a department and overseeing the work of other employees, are exempt.
Administrative employees performing office or non-manual work directly related to management or general business operations, and exercising discretion and independent judgment, are exempt.
Professional employees in recognized fields of artistic or creative endeavor, or those requiring advanced knowledge typically acquired by prolonged education, are exempt.
Employees whose primary duty is making sales or obtaining orders and who are customarily and regularly away from the employer’s place of business are also exempt.
Employees engaged in computer-related work and meeting specific criteria are exempt.
Employees working in domestic service in or about a private home are exempt.
Employers can pay a training wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment for employees under the age of 20.
Full-time high school or college students working part-time may be paid 85% of the Kentucky minimum wage, which comes out to $6.16 per hour.
These exemptions help ensure that certain roles and industries can operate flexibly while still adhering to labor standards.
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Kentucky's minimum wage has come a long way. It started in 1938 at just $0.25 per hour, which wouldn't even buy you a cup of coffee today! By 2023, it had increased to $10 per hour.
Right now, the minimum wage in Kentucky is set at $7.25 per hour. This means that by law, employers can't pay their workers any less than this amount. However, there's a push to raise the minimum wage, so this number could change.
Yes, there's a proposal on the table! A bill going through the system could raise Kentucky's minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2028. This could be a big change for many state workers.
The cost of living can vary depending on where you are in Kentucky. In Louisville, you might need to make around $15 per hour to afford rent, groceries, and other necessities. However, in a more rural area, the cost of living might be a bit lower.
Nope, in Kentucky (and most places!), full-time employment is typically considered to be 40 hours per week. So, if you're working 32 hours, you'd be regarded as part-time.
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