The Utah Labor Law Guide

Utah's minimum wage is tied to the federal rate and applies to most employees. If the federal minimum wage increases, Utah's will automatically match it. It currently remains at $7.25 per hour.

Utah prohibits cities and counties from setting their own higher minimum wage rates.

The tipped minimum wage is the lowest hourly cash wage an employer may pay employees who customarily and regularly receive tips, as long as their tips plus cash wages equal at least the applicable minimum wage.

Employers may pay this lower cash wage only if the employee's tips plus the $2.13 cash wage equal at least the full minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. If they do not, the employer must make up the difference.

Utah generally follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers must pay non-exempt employees time and a half (1.5 times) their regular rate for every hour worked over 40 within a workweek.

Utah law distinguishes strictly between adults and minors on breaks.

Adults (18 and older)

Utah law does not require employers to provide lunch or rest breaks.

Under federal rules, if an employer chooses to provide short breaks (5 to 20 minutes), they must be paid. Bona fide meal periods (typically 30 minutes or more, where the employee is fully relieved of duties) may be unpaid.

Minors (under 18)

• Meal break: must receive a meal period of at least 30 minutes no later than 5 hours into the workday. This can be unpaid if the minor is relieved of all duties.
• Rest break: must receive a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked (or fraction thereof). Minors cannot work more than 3 consecutive hours without a rest break.

Utah law does not require private employers to provide paid or unpaid vacation or sick leave.

Minors under 14

Utah sets no single minimum age for work. Instead, state law lists the jobs open to younger minors by age (Utah Code §§ 34-23-205 to 34-23-207):

• Ages 10 and older: jobs such as newspaper delivery and caddying.
• Ages 12 and older: jobs such as baby-sitting and nonhazardous agricultural work.
• Any age, with a parent's consent: chores and other work for a parent, casual work, nonhazardous agricultural work, and acting or performing.

Federal law (FLSA) sets 14 as the general minimum age for non-agricultural jobs. Employers covered by the FLSA may hire younger children only for exempt work, such as newspaper delivery, acting, or work in a business entirely owned by the child's parents.

Minors ages 14-15

• School days: max 3 hours per day.
• School weeks: max 18 hours per week.
• Non-school days: max 8 hours per day.
• Non-school weeks: max 40 hours per week.
• Hours: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM (extended to 9:00 PM from June 1 through Labor Day).

Minors ages 16-17

There are no specific daily or weekly hour limits for minors 16 and 17. They may generally work any hours, provided the work is not hazardous.

Required breaks (all minors under 18)

Minors must get a 30-minute meal period and paid 10-minute rest breaks. See Meal and Rest Breaks above for the full rules.