Youth Minimum Wage

The 1996 amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) included a provision that allows FLSA-covered employers to pay a special wage rate to workers under 20 years of age for the first 90 consecutive days of employment. The special wage rate is lower than the federal minimum wage.

Section 6(g) of the FLSA permits covered employers to pay employees under the age of 20 a special minimum wage rate of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 consecutive days of employment, or until the employee turns 20 years of age, whichever occurs first. The 90 days are calendar days, not work days. When the 90 days expire or the employee turns 20, the federal minimum wage then applies.

In states that have legislated higher youth minimum wages, the state's rate will apply, not the federal $4.25 rate. The same applies if the state minimum wage is higher than the federal rate.