The Wyoming Labor Law Guide

Minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay rate an employer is legally required to pay. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is the baseline under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and most Wyoming employers must pay at least this rate.

Wyoming's state minimum wage statute sets a lower rate of $5.15 per hour for employers not covered by the FLSA, but in practice the federal $7.25 minimum usually applies.

Wyoming does not allow cities or counties to set their own minimum wage rates.

The tipped minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay rate an employer can pay workers who earn a significant share of their income from tips.

In Wyoming, employers may pay tipped employees a minimum cash wage of $2.13 per hour, as long as the employee's total earnings (cash wage plus tips actually received) meet or exceed the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. If the combined pay falls below this threshold, the employer must make up the difference.

A "tipped employee" is someone who customarily and regularly receives more than $30 per month in tips. Wyoming law (W.S. 27-4-202) and the federal FLSA use the same test.

Most Wyoming employers are subject to the FLSA, which governs the federal minimum wage. Wyoming also maintains a lower state minimum wage of $5.15 per hour for employers not covered by the FLSA. In those cases, the combined tipped wage must meet or exceed that state minimum.

Wyoming does not have its own general state overtime law for private sector employees, so overtime is governed by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Under the FLSA, all non-exempt employees must receive overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Employers must track work hours accurately to stay compliant.

Wyoming does not mandate overtime based on daily hours (for example, over 8 hours in a day), and no cities or counties impose local overtime rules. Certain exemptions may apply depending on job classification and duties.

Wyoming has no state law requiring rest or meal breaks for adult employees. Employers can choose whether to offer breaks, but if breaks are provided, federal rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) apply.

Under the FLSA:

• Short breaks (typically 5 to 20 minutes) must be counted as paid work time.
• Meal breaks (generally 30 minutes or more) may be unpaid only if the employee is completely relieved of all duties during the break.
• If an employee is not fully off duty (for example, still on-call or performing tasks), the time must be paid.

There are no local (city or county) laws in Wyoming that require additional break provisions.

Vacation leave

Wyoming law does not require private or public employers to provide paid or unpaid vacation leave. Any vacation benefits are at the employer's discretion and should be clearly outlined in company policies or employment agreements.

Paid sick leave

Wyoming does not mandate paid sick leave for private or public employers. If an employer chooses to provide sick leave, the terms (including accrual, usage, and payout) are set by the employer's internal policies.

Holidays

Wyoming law does not require employers to provide paid holidays or time off on holidays. Any holiday benefits, including pay or time off, are voluntary and should be specified in company policies or employment contracts. Hours worked on holidays are treated the same as hours worked on any other day, unless the employer elects to offer special rates. Wyoming recognizes nine official holidays for state government employees, but this requirement does not extend to private employers.

Most Wyoming employers are governed by federal child labor laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). State-specific rules apply only to employers not covered by federal law, a rare exception.

Minors under 14

Generally, minors under age 14 may not be employed in non-agricultural jobs, with limited exceptions (for example, working for a parent in a family business, newspaper delivery, or certain entertainment roles).

Minors aged 14 to 15

Minors age 14 or 15 may work in approved non-hazardous jobs such as retail, food service, office and clerical work, tutoring, and lifeguarding (age 15 and up). They may work outside of school hours under these limits:

• Up to 3 hours on a school day (not during school hours)
• Up to 18 hours in a school week
• Up to 8 hours on a non-school day
• Up to 40 hours in a non-school week
• 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, extended to 9:00 PM from June 1 to Labor Day

Minors aged 16 to 17

Minors age 16 or older may work unlimited hours but may not be employed in occupations designated as hazardous by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Wyoming-specific rules (for employers not covered by federal law)

In the rare cases where only state law applies, minors under 16:

• May not work more than 8 hours in any 12-hour period
• May not work before 5:00 AM or after 10:00 PM before a school day
• May not work after midnight on non-school nights
• If not enrolled in school, may work up to 8 hours between 5:00 AM and midnight