Pay and your rights
Minimum wage in Tennessee
Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour.
At a glance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — State Minimum Wage Laws (updated 2026-07-01), checked 2026-10-20.
Details from the Department of Labor table
- No state minimum wage law.
- Employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Local (city or county) minimum wages, and lower rates for minors, students or trainees, are not in the Department of Labor table, so they are not shown here.
If you are paid less than the minimum
- Write down your hours and pay
Keep pay stubs and a simple log of the days and hours you worked.
- Contact your state labor office
- Or file a complaint with the federal Wage and Hour Division
How to file a complaint · phone 1-866-487-9243. The Department of Labor says complaints are confidential.
Earn more than the minimum
Real openings in Tennessee from employers' official job boards and USAJOBS:
- Electrician
Veterans Health Administration · Memphis, Tennessee · 6 hours ago
- Mission Support Specialist
Immigration and Customs Enforcement · Casa Grande, Arizona · 18 hours ago
- Procurement Analyst
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services · Huntsville, Alabama · 18 hours ago
- Information Technology Specialist (Customer Support)
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Campbell, Tennessee · 18 hours ago
- Nursing Assistant (Community Living Center)
Veterans Health Administration · Murfreesboro, Tennessee · 1 day ago
Step-by-step paths to more income Unemployment benefits in Tennessee
General information, not legal advice. Rates change: the Department of Labor table and your state labor office are the final word.
