Ohio’s minimum
wage increased to $7.30 per hour, effective January 1, 2009. In
2006, Ohioans approved a new Amendment to Ohio’s Constitution that
both raised Ohio’s minimum wage and provided for an automatic
increase every January 1st by the rate of inflation based on the
consumer price index.
• General rule:
Employers whose annual gross receipts in 2009 exceeded $267,000
will have to pay a minimum wage of $7.30 per hour.
• Tipped
employees: As before, tipped employees may be paid half the
minimum wage ($3.65 per hour effective January 1, 2009), if their
wage plus tips equals at least $7.30 per hour. Employers whose 2009
annual gross receipts did not exceed $267,000 do not have to pay the
Ohio minimum wage; however, they must still pay the federal
minimum wage. Currently, the federal minimum wage is $725 per hour.
Employees under the age of 16 are also exempt from the Ohio minimum
wage, but they too must still be paid the federal minimum wage.
Where Federal and State law have different minimum wage rates, the
higher standard applies.
Exceptions to the Ohio Minimum Wage Law.
Employees under the age of 16 and employees of small businesses
(less than $267,000 in annual gross revenues) are not entitled to
the new minimum wage. However, the minimum wage amendment to Ohio’s
constitution requires employers to pay those employees at least the
federal minimum wage. Therefore, if they fail to pay the federal
minimum wage, those employers will violate both federal and Ohio
minimum wage laws.
