The Kentucky Labor Law Guide

Minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay rate that employers are legally obligated to pay employees. The federal minimum wage is a wage baseline, but different states, cities, and regions can adopt their own rates. 

$7.25 per hour for most employees (as of 2026)

Compliance Note: Kentucky has a state minimum wage law (KRS 337.275), but it is tied to the federal minimum wage. Therefore, the state rate mirrors the federal rate. Local cities and counties in Kentucky generally do not set their own higher minimum wage rates.

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Tipped minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay rate employers are legally obligated to pay employees who earn a significant portion of their income through tips. 

$2.13 per hour for most tipped employees

Compliance Note: Employers may take a tip credit but must ensure that the employee’s tips plus the cash wage of $2.13 equal at least the full minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

Kentucky overtime laws generally follow the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), but with a unique state-specific provision for employees working seven consecutive days.

• Standard Rule: Employers must pay non-exempt employees time and a half (1.5x) their regular rate of pay for every hour worked over 40 hours within a workweek.

• 7th Consecutive Day Rule: Kentucky law (KRS 337.050) requires that if an employee works all seven days in a single workweek, they must be paid time and a half (1.5x) for all hours worked on that 7th day.

  • Crucial Condition: This premium pay for the 7th day is only required if the employee works more than 40 hours total in that week. If an employee works seven days but stays under 40 total hours (e.g., working short shifts every day), the statutory overtime requirement does not apply.

  • Exemptions: This 7th-day provision does not apply to employees serving as supervisors, superintendents, or foremen.

Kentucky has specific state laws regarding breaks that are stricter than federal law.

• Rest Breaks (Paid): Employers must provide a paid rest period of at least 10 minutes for every four hours worked.

• Meal Breaks (Unpaid): Employers must provide a reasonable period for a meal (typically 30 minutes) as close to the middle of the shift as possible.

  • Timing Rule: The meal break cannot be sooner than the 3rd hour nor later than the 5th hour of the shift.

  • Pay: The meal break does not have to be paid if the employee is completely relieved of all duties.

• Waiver of Meal Break:

  • Mutual Agreement: The meal break requirement may be waived if there is a mutual agreement between the employer and the employee.

  • Best Practice: While the statute does not explicitly mandate a written form, it is highly recommended to have the waiver in writing to prove the agreement was voluntary and not coerced.

  • Revocability: An employee generally has the right to revoke this waiver at any time.

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Vacation Leave: Kentucky law does not require private employers to provide paid or unpaid vacation leave. Employers may offer vacation leave at their discretion.

Paid Sick Leave: Kentucky has no state law requiring private employers to provide paid or unpaid sick leave.

Holidays: Kentucky state law does not require private employers to provide paid or unpaid holiday leave.

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Kentucky child labor laws are stricter than federal laws for minors aged 16 and 17.

Minors Ages 14–15

• School Days: Max 3 hours per day.

• School Weeks: Max 18 hours per week.

• Non-School Days: Max 8 hours per day.

• Non-School Weeks: Max 40 hours per week.

• Time: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Extended to 9:00 PM from June 1 through Labor Day).

• Prohibition: Cannot work during regular school hours.

Minors Ages 16–17

• School Days: Max 6 hours per day.

• School Weeks: Max 30 hours per week.

  • Exception: Minors may work more than 30 hours if they provide a Certificate of Satisfactory Academic Standing and a Parent/Guardian Statement of Consent.

• Non-School Weeks: No restrictions on hours when school is not in session.

• Time of Day:

  • School Nights: 6:00 AM – 10:30 PM (preceding a school day).

  • Non-School Nights: 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM (preceding a non-school day).

Breaks for Minors: Minors under 18 years old must receive a 30-minute documented lunch break for every 5 hours of continuous work. Employers are required to record the start and end time of this meal period.

Hiring

Hiring (Anti-Discrimination) Kentucky law prohibits employment discrimination through a tiered system based on employer size:

Employers with eight or more employees are prohibited from discriminating based on:

• Race

• Color

• Religion

• National Origin

• Sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions)

• Age (40 and older)

• Physical Disability (Protected under KRS Chapter 207)

• Smoker or Non-Smoker Status (Protected so long as the employee complies with workplace smoking policies)

Employers with 15 or more employees. In addition to the classes above, these employers are subject to expanded compliance duties:

• Comprehensive Disability Protection: Adopts the broader federal standards (ADA), covering both physical and mental disabilities and requiring reasonable accommodations for qualified employees.

• Pregnancy Accommodation: Must provide reasonable accommodations for employees with limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions (under the Kentucky Pregnant Workers Act).

Firing

Kentucky is an “at-will” employment state. Employers generally have the right to terminate employees for any reason or no reason, provided the termination is not discriminatory, retaliatory (e.g., for filing a workers' compensation claim), or in violation of public policy.