Tennessee

$7.25 / hour

In Tennessee, the governing rule for minimum wage is federal: For work performed on or after July 24, 2009, the Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.

Effective

2009-07-24

Checked

2026-08-09

There are no Tennessee state laws regulating overtime pay

Checked

2026-08-13

Tennessee requires consideration of the twenty-factor test in IRS Revenue Ruling 87-41 to determine an employer-employee relationship for wage and hour, occupational safety, and employment-security law.

Checked

2026-08-13

All wages or compensation of employees in private employment are due and payable not less frequently than once per month.

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2026-08-13

An employee who leaves or is discharged must be paid all earned wages no later than the next regular payday or twenty-one days after separation, whichever occurs last.

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2026-08-13

No general pay stub requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

An employer generally cannot make deductions without employee consent in a written agreement signed before the offset.

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2026-08-13

No general payment methods requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

Tennessee law requires a thirty minute unpaid meal or rest period when an employee is scheduled for six consecutive hours, except in qualifying workplaces that provide ample opportunity to rest.

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2026-08-13

No general working time requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general predictive scheduling requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general expense reimbursement requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

A Tennessee cause of action for unpaid commissions owed to an employee or independent contractor must be commenced within three years from accrual

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2026-08-13

A Tennessee cause of action for unpaid bonuses owed to an employee or independent contractor must be commenced within three years from accrual

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2026-08-13

Tennessee law does not require fringe benefits, including severance pay; company policy or agreement determines the benefit.

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2026-08-13

Tennessee does not require fringe benefits such as holiday pay; company policy or an agreement controls.

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2026-08-13

No general prevailing wage requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

Tennessee does not require fringe benefits such as sick pay; company policy or an agreement controls.

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2026-08-13

No general paid family medical leave requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general other leaves requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

Tennessee has no individual income tax on earned income and therefore no state income tax withholding requirement on employee wages.

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2026-08-13

Tennessee has no individual income tax on earned income and therefore no state income tax withholding requirement.

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2026-08-13

No general supplemental wages requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general multistate taxation requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general local taxation requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

Wage base $7,000

The current Tennessee unemployment-insurance taxable wage limit is $7,000 per employee.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general disability insurance requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

Generally speaking, every employer in Tennessee that has five or more employees must secure workers compensation insurance coverage for their employees.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general tax deposit frequency requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

Tennessee unemployment wage reports are filed through Employer e-Services, and employers must file and pay even when the quarterly tax due is less than five dollars.

Checked

2026-08-13

In Tennessee, the governing rule for year-end reporting is federal: Every employer required to deduct and withhold income tax or FICA from an employee, and every employer engaged in a trade or business who pays remuneration for services, must furnish that employee a statement on Form W-2 of the remuneration paid and the tax withheld during the calendar year, on or before January 31 of the succeeding year. Where employment terminates before the close of the calendar year, the statement is due within 30 days of a written request from the employee if that period ends before January 31 (26 U.S.C. 6051(a); 26 CFR 31.6051-1).

Checked

2026-08-10

Employers are required to report newly hired and rehired employees to the state directory within twenty days of the hire date.

Checked

2026-08-13

25%

In Tennessee, the governing rule for garnishments is federal: A garnishment may not take more than the lesser of 25 percent of an employee's disposable earnings for the workweek, or the amount by which those disposable earnings exceed thirty times the federal minimum hourly wage. Earnings equal to or below thirty times the minimum wage may not be garnished in any amount. Orders for support, bankruptcy orders and debts for federal or state tax are excepted from this restriction (15 U.S.C. 1673; 29 CFR 870.10).

Checked

2026-08-10

Employers generally may not discriminate on the basis of sex by paying different wages for comparable skill, effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general pay transparency requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general salary history requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general wage theft requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

Tennessee provides required employment posters, including the Wage Regulations and Child Labor poster, and every employer subject to the Workers Compensation Law must display the insurance notice.

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2026-08-13

Tennessee employment regulations include child labor requirements, and the Department provides a Wage Regulations and Child Labor poster for employers.

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2026-08-13

No general e verify requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

No general employer registration requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

In Tennessee, the governing rule for payroll recordkeeping is federal: Payroll records must be preserved for at least three years (29 CFR § 516.5); records used as the basis for wage computations, such as time cards and wage rate tables, for at least two years (29 CFR § 516.6(a)).

Checked

2026-08-08

No general penalties interest requirement for private employers was located in TN's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

Checked

2026-08-13

Tennessee requires causes of action for unpaid wages, overtime, minimum wage, salary, bonuses, commissions, or other compensation to be commenced within three years from accrual

Checked

2026-08-13