Oklahoma’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour in 2026 [1][3]. State law doesn’t set its own number. It requires employers to pay at least the current federal minimum wage [1], which has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009 [3]. A ballot measure to raise it to $15 failed in June 2026 [6], and cities and counties are barred from setting their own minimum [1].
At a glance
| Worker | Hourly minimum |
|---|---|
| Most workers | $7.25 |
| Tipped workers (cash wage) | $2.13, with tips bringing the total to at least $7.25 |
| Maximum tip credit | $5.12 |
Why it’s still $7.25
Oklahoma’s Minimum Wage Act says no employer may pay less than the current federal minimum wage for all hours worked [1]. The federal rate is $7.25 and has been since July 24, 2009 [3]. If Congress raised the federal minimum, Oklahoma’s would follow [1].
State Question 832
State Question 832 would have raised the minimum in $1.50 yearly steps to $15 an hour, then tied later increases to the cost of living. It would also have removed several exemptions, including those for part-time and farm workers [5]. It went on the June 16, 2026 primary ballot, and voters rejected it [6].
Cities can’t set their own
The Legislature has claimed the whole field of minimum wage law. No city, town or other local government in Oklahoma can require a higher minimum wage, so Oklahoma City, Tulsa and every other city use the state rate [1].
Tipped workers
Employers can count tips toward the minimum wage as long as they pay a cash wage at least equal to the federal tipped cash wage [1], which is $2.13 an hour [4]. That lets them count up to $5.12 an hour in tips [4]. Tips plus the cash wage still have to add up to at least $7.25 an hour [4].
Who the state law covers
The state act doesn’t apply to employers who are covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and pay the federal minimum [1]. So the state’s own coverage rules matter mostly for smaller employers outside federal law.
Under the state act, an employer is covered if it has more than 10 full-time employees (or the equivalent) at one location, or does more than $100,000 a year in gross business [1]. The state act also leaves out some workers, including [1]:
- farm and ranch workers, and domestic workers in private homes,
- part-time workers not on permanent status (under 25 hours a week),
- workers under 18 who haven’t graduated from high school or a vocational program, and students under 22 enrolled in school,
- volunteers for charities, churches and nonprofits, and
- executive, administrative and professional employees and outside salespeople.
If one of these applies to you, federal law may still cover your job. Ask the Oklahoma Department of Labor if you’re not sure which rules apply.
Other pay rules
- Overtime: non-exempt employees get time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek [2].
- Final paycheck: your employer can wait until the next regular payday, whether you quit or were fired [2].
- Breaks: neither state nor federal law requires breaks for workers 16 and older. Oklahoma’s child labor law requires breaks and meal periods for 14- and 15-year-olds [2].
If you’re paid less than you’re owed
1. File a wage claim. The Oklahoma Department of Labor takes wage claims through an online form, or a printable form you can mail or bring to its office at 409 NE 28th St., 3rd Floor, Oklahoma City [2]. The Commissioner of Labor can investigate whether wages are owed [1].
2. Go to court. An employer a court finds paid less than the minimum wage owes the worker double the unpaid wages, minus anything already paid, plus court costs and attorney fees of at least $100 [1]. An agreement to work for less is no defense [1].
Other states
Comparing Oklahoma with its neighbors? See the minimum wage in every state on BestAmerica.
Sources
- Oklahoma Statutes, Title 40 (Labor), § 160 and §§ 197.1 to 197.17, Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act (Oklahoma Legislature)
- Oklahoma Department of Labor, Wage and Hour FAQs
- U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wage
- U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (state table)
- Oklahoma State Election Board, State Question 832
- Oklahoma State Election Board, results of the June 16, 2026 primary election
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What is the minimum wage in Oklahoma in 2026?
$7.25 an hour. Oklahoma law requires employers to pay at least the current federal minimum wage, which has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009. Cities and counties can't set a higher one.
Did Oklahoma raise the minimum wage to $15?
No. State Question 832, which would have raised it in steps to $15 an hour, was on the June 16, 2026 primary ballot and voters rejected it. The minimum stays $7.25 unless the law changes.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Oklahoma?
$2.13 an hour in cash, the same as the federal tipped cash wage. Tips can make up the rest, up to $5.12 an hour, but the total has to reach at least $7.25.
How do I file a wage claim in Oklahoma?
File with the Oklahoma Department of Labor, online or on a printable form you mail or bring to its Oklahoma City office. The department can investigate whether wages are owed.