West Virginia minimum wage

The current DOL summary, effective-floor context, and a direct path to the state labor office.

The U.S. Department of Labor summary for West Virginia states: West Virginia Applicable to employers of 6 or more employees at one location Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $8.75 Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 This text is retained because the listed state rate alone can be misleading when a state has no wage law, has a rate below the federal floor, or limits coverage. The applicable figure shown above uses the federal $7.25 floor where the DOL summary says covered employers must use it.

The statewide number is not the end of the analysis. Employer coverage, worker age, occupation, industry, tipped status, training arrangements, disability certificates, local ordinances, and other exceptions can affect the rate. The work location usually matters more than the employer’s headquarters. Confirm the date and coverage before using a number in a payroll calculation or claim.

The DOL table records this update as July 1, 2026. The state entry’s scheduled-increase note is: not available. When that field is “not available,” LaborBrief does not infer a future adjustment. A formula, ballot measure, or pending bill is not converted into a rate until an agency publication supplies the fact and effective date.

Overtime is a separate question. The DOL state summary says: West Virginia Applicable to employers of 6 or more employees at one location Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $8.75 Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 Federal overtime may still apply even when no state premium-pay line is listed. Review overtime pay, hours worked, and regular rate rather than multiplying the wage floor without checking coverage.

The state’s broad labor-market estimate—701,610 jobs and a $56,470 mean annual wage—comes from BLS OEWS May 2025 and is not used to derive the wage floor. Keeping statistical and legal sources separate prevents a market average from being mistaken for a statutory minimum.

For current enforcement and state-specific details, use Division of Labor. The West Virginia overview connects this rule with employment data, while state worker-rights sources and the verification guide provide a broader research path.

Primary sources

• DOL State Minimum Wage Laws — updated July 1, 2026
• Division of Labor — state source
• DOL federal minimum wage guidance — federal baseline