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Mississippi Employment Law: Wages, Final Pay, Breaks and Your Rights at Work

Mississippi employment law: minimum wage, overtime, breaks, final paycheck deadlines, PTO payout, sick leave, at-will exceptions and where to file a wage claim.

Quick answers for Mississippi

Minimum wage
Mississippi has no state minimum wage law. Employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. U.S. Department of Labor state minimum wage table
Meal and rest breaks
No state requirement for adults. U.S. Department of Labor state meal period table (no Mississippi requirement listed)

Last verified: 2026-10-26

Pay

Minimum wageMississippi has no state minimum wage law. Employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor state minimum wage table
Tipped minimum wageMississippi has no state law on tipped wages, so federal rules apply to covered employers: a cash wage of at least $2.13 per hour, with a tip credit of up to $5.12, as long as cash wage plus tips reach $7.25 per hour. A tipped employee is one who regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (state table, updated July 1, 2026)
OvertimeNo state overtime law; overtime follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (time and one-half after 40 hours in a workweek for non-exempt employees).
Source: U.S. Department of Labor state minimum wage and overtime table
How often you must be paidMississippi's pay-frequency law covers only certain employers: manufacturers with 50 or more employees and public service corporations doing business in the state. They must pay at least once every two weeks or twice each calendar month (or on the second and fourth Saturday of each month), covering all wages earned up to no more than 10 days before payday (15 days for public service corporations). Employees in bona fide executive, administrative or professional jobs are excluded.
Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code current as of January 1, 2025).
Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 71-1-35

Breaks and leave

Meal and rest breaksNo state requirement for adults.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor state meal period table (no Mississippi requirement listed)

Leaving a job

Unemployment benefitsMississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES). File a claim online through MDES's online unemployment claim services.
Source: Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Unemployment Claims

Where to get help in Mississippi

Employment Law FAQ

What is the minimum wage in Mississippi?
Mississippi has no state minimum wage law. Employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Mississippi?
Mississippi has no state law on tipped wages, so federal rules apply to covered employers: a cash wage of at least $2.13 per hour, with a tip credit of up to $5.12, as long as cash wage plus tips reach $7.25 per hour. A tipped employee is one who regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips.
What are the overtime rules in Mississippi?
No state overtime law; overtime follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (time and one-half after 40 hours in a workweek for non-exempt employees).
Are breaks required by law in Mississippi?
No state requirement for adults.
How often must employees be paid in Mississippi?
Mississippi's pay-frequency law covers only certain employers: manufacturers with 50 or more employees and public service corporations doing business in the state. They must pay at least once every two weeks or twice each calendar month (or on the second and fourth Saturday of each month), covering all wages earned up to no more than 10 days before payday (15 days for public service corporations). Employees in bona fide executive, administrative or professional jobs are excluded.
How do I apply for unemployment in Mississippi?
Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES). File a claim online through MDES's online unemployment claim services.

Employment Law in other states

More Mississippi law

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.