Yes, it’s hard to imagine getting by without your nanny, housekeeper, pet sitter or the other caregivers in your life. But do you pay them a fair wage?
“Just as you are compensated for the work you do in your profession, your household employee must be paid at least minimum wage for every hour they work,” says Tom Breedlove, Sr. Director of Care.com HomePay.
Read on to learn more about minimum wage and what the current rates on in your state.
Are you a nanny or caregiver? Read these tips about getting paid minimum wage.
What is the minimum wage to pay caregivers per hour?
According to New York City-based employment attorney Jeffrey Risman, Esq., household workers such as nannies, senior caregivers and housekeepers must be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This applies even in states that don’t have a minimum wage law or those states where the minimum wage law is set at a lower rate than that established by federal law.
Do I pay the state or federal minimum wage?
In states where the minimum wage requirement exceeds $7.25, workers should be compensated at the higher rate set.
“It’s important to understand your state’s minimum wage requirement because employees can file a wage dispute for unpaid wages against their employer months after the employment relationship has ended,” cautions Breedlove.
Follow this guide to minimum wage law
Here’s the current minimum wage that families in each state need to pay. Keep in mind that some cities and counties within certain states have their own minimum wage laws that families should adhere to.
- Alabama: $7.25/hour
- Alaska: $7.25/hour
- Arizona: $14.70/hour
- Some cities have a higher minimum wage rate. Check the HomePay Arizona state page for details.
- Arkansas: $7.25/hour
- California: $16.50/hour
- Several cities and worker groups have a higher minimum wage rate. Check the HomePay California state page for details.
- Colorado: $14.81/hour
- Some cities have a higher minimum wage rate. Check the HomePay Colorado state page for details.
- Connecticut: $16.35/hour
- Delaware: $7.25/hour
- District of Columbia: $17.50/hour
- Florida: $13.00/hour
- Georgia: $7.25/hour
- Hawaii: $14.00/hour
- Idaho: $7.25/hour
- Illinois: $15.00/hour
- Some cities and counties have a higher minimum wage rate. Check the HomePay Illinois state page for details.
- Indiana: $7.25/hour
- Iowa: $7.25/hour
- Kansas: $7.25/hour
- Kentucky: $7.25/hour
- Louisiana: $7.25/hour
- Maine: $14.65/hour
- Some cities have a higher minimum wage rate. Check the HomePay Maine state page for details.
- Maryland: $15.00/hour
- Some counties have a higher minimum wage rate. Check the HomePay Maryland state page for details.
- Massachusetts: $15.00/hour
- Michigan: Minimum wage varies from $10.33/hour to $10.56/hour depending on how many employees you have.
- HomePay lists the details on its Michigan state page.
- Minnesota: $11.13/hour
- Some cities have a higher minimum wage rate. HomePay lists the details on its Minnesota state page.
- Mississippi: $7.25/hour
- Missouri: $7.25/hour
- Montana: $10.55/hour
- Nebraska: $13.50/hour (*only applies if employer has 4 or more employees).
- Nevada: $12.00/hour
- New Hampshire: $7.25/hour
- New Jersey: Minimum wage varies from $14.53/hour to $15.49/hour depending on how many employees you have.
- HomePay lists the details on its New Jersey state page.
- New Mexico: $12.00/hour
- Some cities and counties have higher minimum wage rates. Find more details on the HomePay New Mexico state page.
- New York: $15.50/hour ($18.10 for home care aides as defined under 3614c)
- Some cities, counties and worker groups have higher minimum wage rates. Visit the HomePay New York state page for details.
- North Carolina: $7.25/hour
- North Dakota: $7.25/hour
- Ohio: $7.25/hour
- Oklahoma: $7.25/hour
- Oregon: Minimum wage varies from $13.70/hour to $15.95/hour depending on the county where the work is performed.
- Visit the HomePay Oregon state page to see specific details.
- Pennsylvania: $7.25/hour
- Rhode Island: $15.00/hour
- South Carolina: $7.25/hour
- South Dakota: $11.50/hour
- Tennessee: $7.25/hour
- Texas: $7.25/hour
- Utah: $7.25/hour
- Vermont: $10.96/hour
- Virginia: $12.41/hour
- Washington: $16.66/hour
- Some cities have higher minimum wage rates. The HomePay Washington state page has the details.
- West Virginia: $7.25/hour
- Wisconsin: $7.25/hour
- Wyoming: $7.25/hour
Your next steps:
- Discover what caregivers make in your area.
- Set up a payroll and tax account with HomePay.
- Run a budget scenario for your care needs.
