Alabama has no state minimum wage statute; the federal FLSA minimum of $7.25 per hour applies to covered employers. — Source
Alabama has no state minimum wage statute. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum of $7.25 per hour applies to covered employers. This page explains the law, who enforces it, and how to file a wage complaint.
Alabama has no state minimum wage statute. The Alabama Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Info sheet states verbatim: "Alabama does not have any state laws governing wage and hour issues. Therefore, employers must follow federal guidelines."
Every analysis of minimum wage obligations for Alabama workers begins with FLSA coverage. If the employer and employee are covered by the FLSA, $7.25 per hour is the floor, effective July 24, 2009.
Alabama is one of approximately five states that has enacted no minimum wage statute of its own. The Alabama Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Info sheet (labor.alabama.gov) states this directly: "Alabama does not have any state laws governing wage and hour issues. Therefore, employers must follow federal guidelines."
Every analysis of minimum wage obligations for Alabama workers begins and ends with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. § 207. The FLSA's $7.25/hr minimum has been in effect since July 24, 2009. It covers most private employers with annual revenues of $500,000 or more, as well as hospitals, schools, and public agencies regardless of revenue.
Statute: 29 U.S.C. § 207 (FLSA governs entirely); confirmed from labor.alabama.gov: "Alabama does not have any state laws governing wage and hour issues."
Wage-claim agency: Alabama Department of Labor. Contact the Alabama Department of Labor at labor.alabama.gov or file a federal wage claim with the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (dol.gov/agencies/whd). Specific claim-filing deadline: GAP — not confirmed from primary source.
Regional comparison: Neighboring Georgia has a state minimum wage statute (O.C.G.A. Title 34, Chapter 4) setting $5.15/hr for non-FLSA employers; Alabama has no wage statute whatsoever, making it one of only five states in that position.
Alabama's no-state-law status was verified from the Alabama Department of Labor's official Wage and Hour Info PDF at labor.alabama.gov, which states verbatim that Alabama has no state wage and hour laws. The federal FLSA minimum wage ($7.25/hr effective July 24, 2009) is confirmed from the U.S. Department of Labor. See the site's methodology.
No. Alabama has no state minimum wage statute. The Alabama Department of Labor confirms: "Alabama does not have any state laws governing wage and hour issues. Therefore, employers must follow federal guidelines." The federal FLSA minimum of $7.25 per hour applies to covered employers, effective July 24, 2009.
For most workers, no. If your employer is covered by the FLSA, $7.25/hr is the federal floor effective July 24, 2009. Certain narrow FLSA exemptions exist — student workers, apprentices, workers with disabilities under Section 14(c) certificates — but these do not apply to most employees.
Contact the Alabama Department of Labor at https://labor.alabama.gov or the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (dol.gov/agencies/whd) for federal FLSA claims. Both agencies accept wage complaints at no cost.
Yes, as of August 2026. The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009 (FLSA amendment). Alabama has enacted no state law setting a different rate.