Kansas Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25 per Hour, Tipped $2.13
Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour in 2026, equal to the federal rate, with a $2.13 tipped cash wage. Which employers the state law covers, the state's 46-hour overtime threshold versus the federal 40, local preemption, and what a full-time minimum wage worker earns.
Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour in 2026, matching the federal minimum wage, and it has not changed since January 1, 2010. Tipped employees can be paid a cash wage of $2.13 per hour plus tips. The Kansas Minimum Wage and Maximum Hours Law applies only to employers not covered by the federal FLSA, and it sets overtime at 46 hours a week, but most Kansas employers are FLSA-covered and owe overtime after 40.
- Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, unchanged since 2010 and equal to the federal rate
- Tipped employees can be paid $2.13 in cash wages with up to a $5.12 tip credit
- The state law covers only employers outside the FLSA; those employers owe overtime after 46 hours, not 40
- Kansas law prohibits cities and counties from setting a higher local minimum wage
- No increase is scheduled and no bill has advanced in recent sessions
Current Kansas Minimum Wage
The Kansas Minimum Wage and Maximum Hours Law (K.S.A. 44-1201 through 44-1213) sets the state minimum wage at $7.25 per hour, the rate that took effect January 1, 2010 when Kansas raised its long-standing $2.65 rate to match the federal minimum. The Kansas Department of Labor confirms the figure on its workplace laws pages, and the US Department of Labor lists Kansas at $7.25 in its state minimum wage table.
An unusual feature of Kansas law is its scope. The state statute applies only to employers and employees who are not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Since the FLSA covers any business with $500,000 or more in annual sales and any employee engaged in interstate commerce, the state law reaches mainly very small, purely local businesses. For everyone else, the FLSA governs, and the two rates happen to be identical.
Kansas Minimum Wage vs Federal Minimum Wage
| Rate | Kansas | Federal (FLSA) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $7.25 per hour | $7.25 per hour |
| Tipped cash wage | $2.13 | $2.13 |
| Difference | Same as federal | Baseline |
| Last changed | See schedule below | July 24, 2009 |
When state and federal rates differ, the employer must pay the higher one for any employee covered by both laws. Because Kansas's rate equals the federal minimum, the practical rate is $7.25 for nearly every worker, and the state law matters mainly for the employers and rules it covers that the FLSA does not. The federal rate has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009, and there is no scheduled federal increase. Our minimum wage by state guide compares every state.
Tipped Minimum Wage in Kansas
Kansas allows a tip credit on the federal model. A tipped employee may be paid a cash wage of $2.13 per hour, with a tip credit of up to $5.12 per hour, as long as cash wages plus tips reach $7.25 for every hour worked. Employers must make up any shortfall.
The US Department of Labor's tipped wage table lists Kansas at $2.13 cash and $5.12 credit as of July 1, 2026. Kansas defines a tipped employee using the federal threshold of more than $30 a month in tips.
| Item | Kansas (2026) | Federal |
|---|---|---|
| Full minimum wage | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Minimum cash wage for tipped employees | $2.13 | $2.13 |
| Maximum tip credit | $5.12 | $5.12 |
Kansas Minimum Wage Increase Schedule
| Effective date | Minimum wage |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $7.25 |
| 2022 | $7.25 |
| 2023 | $7.25 |
| 2024 | $7.25 |
| 2025 | $7.25 |
| 2026 | $7.25 |
No increase is scheduled. Kansas does not index its minimum wage and does not automatically follow federal increases, so a change requires the Legislature to amend K.S.A. 44-1203. Increase bills are introduced most years and have not advanced.
Local Minimum Wages in Kansas
Kansas preempts local minimum wages. K.S.A. 12-16,130 prohibits cities and counties from requiring private employers to pay a minimum wage above the state rate, so Wichita, Kansas City (Kansas), Overland Park, and Topeka all follow $7.25. Employers on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro face a very different rate, since Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 in 2026.
How Kansas Compares to Neighboring States
Employers that hire across state lines, or compete for workers with employers over the border, should know how Kansas compares. Rates below are the US Department of Labor's figures as of July 1, 2026.
| State | 2026 minimum wage | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $15.00 | $7.50 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $2.13 |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $12.14 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| Kansas | $7.25 | $2.13 |
Oklahoma pays the same rate as Kansas, while Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado pay more, which is why employers near those borders often pay above the legal minimum to compete for staff. Remote employees are generally owed the minimum wage of the state where they physically work, not where the employer is based, so a Kansas company with staff in a neighboring state must apply that state's rate to those employees.
Who Is Covered and Who Is Exempt
Coverage works in two layers. FLSA-covered employers (almost all businesses with $500,000 or more in annual sales, plus any employee engaged in interstate commerce) follow federal rules: $7.25 minimum wage and overtime after 40 hours. Employers outside the FLSA follow the Kansas law, which exempts:
- Agricultural employees
- Employees of nonprofit and charitable organizations in certain roles
- Bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees
- Individuals under 18 employed on an occasional or part-time basis
- Certain employees covered by the federal Motor Carrier Act
Because the state law's 46-hour overtime threshold is more generous to employers than the federal 40-hour rule, it is important to determine FLSA coverage first. Treating an FLSA-covered employee under the state 46-hour rule is a common and expensive mistake. See our exempt vs non-exempt guide for the federal tests.
Overtime and the Minimum Wage
Kansas state law (K.S.A. 44-1204) requires overtime at one and a half times the regular rate after 46 hours in a workweek, but only for employers not covered by the FLSA. FLSA-covered employers, which is most of them, owe overtime after 40 hours. The example below uses the federal rule.
Here is what a 45-hour week costs at the Kansas minimum wage under the 40-hour rule:
| Line | Hours | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular hours | 40 | $7.25 | $290.00 |
| Overtime hours | 5 | $10.88 (1.5x) | $54.38 |
| Gross pay for the week | 45 | $344.38 |
Overtime must be calculated on the employee's regular rate, which includes shift differentials and non-discretionary bonuses, not just the base wage. See our guide to overtime pay laws in the US and use the overtime calculator to check a specific week.
What a Minimum Wage Worker Earns in Kansas
| Basis | Hourly | Weekly (40 hours) | Monthly (173.33 hours) | Annual (2,080 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full minimum wage | $7.25 | $290.00 | $1,256.64 | $15,080.00 |
| Tipped cash wage only | $2.13 | $85.20 | $369.19 | $4,430.40 |
These are gross figures before taxes and deductions, and they assume a full 40-hour week with no unpaid time off. A tipped employee's total pay must reach at least the full minimum wage row once tips are added. To convert a different hourly rate, use the salary to hourly calculator, and see our explainer on gross pay for what is included before deductions.
Employer Compliance Checklist
- Pay at least $7.25 per hour for every hour worked, including training, meetings, and time spent waiting or on call at the workplace
- If you take a tip credit, give written notice, track tips by pay period, and make up any shortfall to $7.25
- Display the required state and federal minimum wage posters where employees can see them
- Pay overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek, and never average hours across weeks
- Keep accurate time records for at least three years; a time card calculator helps verify weekly totals before payroll runs
- Review exempt classifications against the salary and duties tests; a job title alone does not make an employee exempt
- Cross-check breaks, leave, and overtime rules in our Kansas labor law guide
- Check the labor law compliance hub for related state rules on breaks, leave, and final pay
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Kansas in 2026?
$7.25 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage. It has been $7.25 since January 1, 2010.
Is Kansas raising the minimum wage?
No increase is scheduled as of September 2026. Kansas does not index its rate, and bills to raise it have not advanced in the Legislature.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Kansas?
$2.13 per hour in cash wages with a tip credit of up to $5.12. Tips must bring the employee to at least $7.25 per hour.
Does Kansas overtime start at 40 or 46 hours?
It depends on coverage. Employers covered by the federal FLSA owe overtime after 40 hours. Only employers outside the FLSA use the Kansas 46-hour rule.
Can Kansas cities set a higher minimum wage?
No. State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances for private employers.
Is there a youth or training wage in Kansas?
Kansas has no separate state youth wage. Under the federal FLSA, employees under 20 may be paid $4.25 per hour for their first 90 consecutive calendar days with an employer.
How much does a full-time minimum wage worker earn in Kansas?
$290 a week and $15,080 a year before taxes at $7.25 per hour, based on 2,080 hours.
Sources
- Kansas Department of Labor, Workplace Laws and Requirements
- Kansas Department of Labor, Workplace Laws FAQs
- US DOL, State Minimum Wage Laws (July 1, 2026)
- US Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees
Reviewed September 2026
Rates and rules on this page were checked against the US Department of Labor's state minimum wage tables (effective July 1, 2026) and the Kansas sources listed above. Minimum wage laws change through legislation, ballot measures, indexing, and court decisions. Confirm the current rate with the state labor agency before setting pay, and see our labor law compliance guides for related rules.
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