At a glance
- Minimum wage: $7.25 an hour. No state minimum wage law, so the federal $7.25 applies.
- Tipped cash wage: $2.13.
- Overtime: after 40 hours in a workweek.
- Final paycheck if fired: by the next regular payday or within 21 days, whichever is later.
- Paid sick leave: No. Paid family leave program: No.
What Tennessee employers need to know
Tennessee has no state minimum wage law and no tax on wages, but it does require a 30-minute break for employees scheduled to work 6 consecutive hours, which makes it the rare Southern state with a break rule. Final pay can wait up to 21 days or the next payday, whichever is later. Tennessee cities and counties can't set their own minimum wages.
Tennessee minimum wage
| Minimum wage | $7.25 No state minimum wage law, so the federal $7.25 applies. |
|---|---|
| Tipped cash wage | $2.13 |
| Next change | None scheduled |
Pay the highest rate that applies where the employee works: federal, state, or local. For comparison, neighboring states pay Kentucky ($7.25), Virginia ($12.77), North Carolina ($7.25), Georgia ($7.25), Alabama ($7.25), Mississippi ($7.25), Arkansas ($11.00), Missouri ($15.00). 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.
Tennessee 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.
Tennessee meal and rest break laws
Meal breaks: A 30-minute unpaid meal or rest break for employees scheduled to work 6 consecutive hours, not scheduled during or before the first hour. Tipped food and beverage workers may waive it in writing.
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.
Tennessee final paycheck law
| If you fire or lay off the employee | By the next regular payday or within 21 days, whichever is later. |
|---|---|
| If the employee quits | By the next regular payday or within 21 days, whichever is later. |
| 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.
Tennessee paid sick leave and family leave
Paid sick leave: No statewide paid sick leave law. Check city and county rules, and federal contractor rules (Executive Order 13706) if they apply.
Paid family and medical leave: No state paid family leave program. The federal FMLA gives eligible employees of employers with 50 or more employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.
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: No statewide pay transparency law requiring pay ranges in job postings.
New hire reporting: Report each new hire within 20 days of the hire date, the federal deadline.
State income tax withholding: No state income tax on wages, so there is no state withholding.
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 Tennessee employers
- A 30-minute break is required for scheduled shifts of 6 consecutive hours.
- Tennessee has no tax on wages, so there's no state income tax withholding.
- Final pay is due by the next payday or within 21 days, whichever is later.
Sources and the agency to contact
- Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (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/tennessee/">Tennessee labor laws for employers (2026)</a> (source: HRTally)
Suggested citation: HRTally Research Team. "Tennessee labor laws for employers (2026)." HRTally, updated October 20, 2026. https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/tennessee/
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.