Kentucky labor laws for hourly staff: minimum wage, breaks and minors
Kentucky's basic minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, as listed by the US Department of Labor (updated November 5, 2026). The DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a meal-period requirement for adult private-sector employees for Kentucky, and its rest-period table lists a paid rest-period requirement.
Kentucky labor rules at a glance
| Topic | What the US DOL table says for Kentucky | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $7.25 | November 5, 2026 |
| Overtime / premium pay | Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40, 7th day The 7th day overtime law, which is separate from the minimum wage law, requires employers who permit covered employees to work seven days in any one workweek to pay the employee at a rate of time and one-half for hours worked on the seventh day when employees work all seven days of the workweek. The 7th day overtime law does not apply when the employee is not permitted to work over 40 hours total in the workweek. Compensating time in lieu of overtime is allowed upon written request by an employee of any county, charter county, consolidated local government, or urban-county government, including an employee of a county-elected official. | November 5, 2026 |
| Meal break (adults) | See table below | January 1, 2023 |
| Paid rest break (adults) | See table below | January 1, 2023 |
| Minors under 16: max hours | 8-40 non-school day/week 3-18 school day/week | July 15, 2025 |
| Minors 16–17: max hours | 6-30 school day/week (6- 40 school day/week with parental permission and at least a 2.0 school grade point average) | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, under 16 | 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, 16–17 | 11 p.m. (1 a.m. Friday and Saturday) to 6 a.m. when school in session. | July 15, 2025 |
Minimum wage in Kentucky
Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $7.25
Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40, 7th day
The 7th day overtime law, which is separate from the minimum wage law, requires employers who permit covered employees to work seven days in any one workweek to pay the employee at a rate of time and one-half for hours worked on the seventh day when employees work all seven days of the workweek. The 7th day overtime law does not apply when the employee is not permitted to work over 40 hours total in the workweek.
The state adopts the federal minimum wage rate by reference if the federal rate is greater than the State rate.
Compensating time in lieu of overtime is allowed upon written request by an employee of any county, charter county, consolidated local government, or urban-county government, including an employee of a county-elected official.
DOL footnote 1: The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
The DOL notes that some local governments set minimum wages higher than the state rate, and that subminimum or training rates are not shown in its table.
Meal breaks in Kentucky
| Rule | Prescribed by | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Reasonable off-duty period, ordinarily ½ hour but shorter period permitted under special conditions, between 3rd and 5th hour of work. Not counted as time worked. Coffee breaks and snack time not to be included in meal period. | Statute and regulation | Excludes employers subject to Federal Railway Labor Act. Meal period requirement does not negate collective bargaining agreement or mutual agreement between employer and employee. |
The DOL lists Kentucky among the jurisdictions with separate meal-period provisions for minors.
DOL footnote 3/: Not displayed in table are exemptions for executive, administrative and professional employees, and for outside salespersons.
Rest breaks in Kentucky
| Rule | Prescribed by | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Paid 10-minute rest period during each 4-hour work period | Statute | Excludes employees under the Federal Railway Labor Act. |
Scheduling minors in Kentucky
Hours notation is the DOL's: daily-weekly-days per week (for example 8-40-6). Where state law is less restrictive than federal law, federal law applies; where it is more restrictive, state law applies (29 U.S.C. 218(a), as quoted by the DOL).
| Age | Maximum hours | Night work prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 8-40 non-school day/week 3-18 school day/week | 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. |
| 16 and 17 | 6-30 school day/week (6- 40 school day/week with parental permission and at least a 2.0 school grade point average) | 11 p.m. (1 a.m. Friday and Saturday) to 6 a.m. when school in session. |
DOL table footnotes: (a) State hours limitations on a school day and in a school week usually apply only to those enrolled in school. (b) Students of 14 and 15 enrolled in approved Work Experience and Career Exploration programs may work during school hours up to 3 hours on a school day and 23 hours in a school week. (c) Combined hours of work and school.
A blank cell is blank on the DOL table. The federal (FLSA) row of the same DOL table, for minors under 16: 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 in a non-school week, and no work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Tools: overtime calculator · labor cost calculator · all states
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your state labor department for current rules.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in Kentucky?
The US DOL lists Kentucky's basic minimum rate as $7.25 per hour (updated November 5, 2026). Some cities and counties set higher local rates.
Does Kentucky require meal breaks for adults?
Yes, the DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a requirement for Kentucky; see the table on this page.
Does Kentucky require paid rest breaks?
Yes, Kentucky is listed in the DOL paid rest-period table (revised January 1, 2023); see the table on this page.
Sources
- US DOL, Overtime Pay (checked 2026-11-12)
- State Minimum Wage Laws (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector 1 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-farm Employment as of July 15, 2025 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- US DOL, Breaks and Meal Periods (checked 2026-11-12)