At a glance
- Minimum wage: $16.94 an hour, rising to $17.48 on January 1, 2027.
- Tipped cash wage: $6.38 for hotel and restaurant workers; $8.23 for bartenders..
- Overtime: after 40 hours in a workweek.
- Final paycheck if fired: by the next business day.
- Paid sick leave: Yes. Paid family leave program: Yes.
What Connecticut employers need to know
Connecticut ties its minimum wage to the employment cost index, so it rises every January 1, and its paid sick leave law is in the middle of a phased expansion that reaches every employer in 2027. The state's paid family and medical leave program is funded entirely by employee contributions, which employers withhold and remit. Tipped wages are split in two: $6.38 for hotel and restaurant staff and $8.23 for bartenders.
Connecticut minimum wage
| Minimum wage | $16.94 |
|---|---|
| Tipped cash wage | $6.38 for hotel and restaurant workers; $8.23 for bartenders. |
| Next change | $17.48 on January 1, 2027 |
Pay the highest rate that applies where the employee works: federal, state, or local. For comparison, neighboring states pay New York ($17.00), Massachusetts ($15.00), Rhode Island ($16.00). See every state side by side in our minimum wage by state table, and convert between hourly and annual pay with the salary to hourly calculator.
Connecticut overtime rules
The federal FLSA rule applies: overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. There is no daily overtime rule.
Exempt salary test: the federal minimum of $684 a week ($35,568 a year) applies. Duties tests apply too, so job titles alone don't make someone exempt.
Work out overtime owed with our overtime calculator, compare states in overtime laws by state, and check classification with our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees.
Connecticut meal and rest break laws
Meal breaks: A 30-minute meal period for employees working 7.5 or more consecutive hours, taken after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours.
Rest breaks: No state rest break law for adults. Under federal law, short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid.
Many states have stricter break rules for minors. Compare adult rules nationwide in break laws by state, and total up shifts with the time card calculator.
Connecticut final paycheck law
| If you fire or lay off the employee | By the next business day. |
|---|---|
| If the employee quits | By the next regular payday. |
| Unused vacation or PTO | Not required by state law. Follow your written policy or contract, and apply it consistently. |
Build the deadline into your offboarding checklist. Our offboarding guide covers the full process, the PTO payout calculator works out the amount, and the final paycheck laws by state table compares every state.
Connecticut paid sick leave and family leave
Paid sick leave: Paid sick leave of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year. In 2026 it covers employers with 11 or more employees, and in 2027 it covers employers of every size.
Paid family and medical leave: CT Paid Leave: up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, funded by a 0.5 percent employee payroll deduction.
Federal FMLA: employers with 50 or more employees within 75 miles must also give eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Read our FMLA guide, and compare states in paid leave laws by state.
Hiring, pay transparency, and payroll setup
Pay transparency: Pay range required on request, or before an offer is made, and to current employees on request.
New hire reporting: Report each new hire within 20 days of the hire date, the federal deadline.
State income tax withholding: Yes. Register with the state tax agency before the first payroll.
Our pay transparency laws guide explains posting rules in more depth, and our job description templates include pay data for 50 common roles.
What trips up Connecticut employers
- Paid sick leave now covers employers with 11 or more employees, and all employers starting January 1, 2027.
- Employers must withhold the 0.5 percent CT Paid Leave contribution and remit it quarterly.
- Applicants can ask for a pay range, and you must give it before discussing compensation or making an offer.
Sources and the agency to contact
- Connecticut Department of Labor (state labor agency)
- US Department of Labor: state minimum wage laws
- US Department of Labor: minimum wages for tipped employees by state
- US Department of Labor: state meal period requirements
General information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and have exceptions by industry, employer size, and city. Confirm current rules with the state agency or employment counsel before you rely on them.
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<a href="https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/connecticut/">Connecticut labor laws for employers (2026)</a> (source: HRTally)
Suggested citation: HRTally Research Team. "Connecticut labor laws for employers (2026)." HRTally, updated October 20, 2026. https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/connecticut/
Frequently asked questions
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Written by the HRTally Research Team
Our guides are written and reviewed by people with hands-on US HR, payroll, and HR technology experience. Legal and tax facts are checked against primary sources, such as the Department of Labor, IRS, EEOC, and USCIS, and linked at the end of each guide. Vendors never review or pay for our editorial content.