All Laws Decoded

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

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Minimum wage
$7.25 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage. No increase is scheduled. Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act of 1968 (43 P.S. § 333.101 et seq.)
Final paycheck if fired or laid off
Due no later than the next regular payday on which the wages would otherwise be paid. If the employee asks, the employer must send it by certified mail. Wage Payment and Collection Law, § 5(a) (43 P.S. § 260.5)
Meal and rest breaks
No state requirement for adults. Workers under 18 must get a 30-minute meal period after five consecutive hours of work. Pennsylvania Child Labor Act
Unused vacation / PTO payout
Not required by law. Paid sick leave, holiday pay and other pay for hours not worked are generally protected only when the employer expressly promised them in official documents, such as an employee handbook or memo; Wage Payment and Collection Law (43 P.S. § 260.1 et seq.)

Last verified: 2026-10-26

Pay

Minimum wage$7.25 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage. No increase is scheduled.
Source: Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act of 1968 (43 P.S. § 333.101 et seq.)
Tipped minimum wage$2.83 per hour cash wage. The employer may count tips toward the rest of the minimum wage only for workers who receive more than $135 a month in tips. Employers may not deduct credit card or other payment-processing fees from an employee's tips.
Source: Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act of 1968
OvertimeTime and one-half the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. No general daily overtime rule.
Source: Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act of 1968
How often you must be paidOn regular paydays the employer sets in advance. Wages for a pay period must be paid within the time set in a written contract, or within the time customary in the trade, or otherwise within 15 days after the pay period ends. Overtime may be paid in the next pay period.
Source: Wage Payment and Collection Law, § 3(a) (43 P.S. § 260.3)

Breaks and leave

Meal and rest breaksNo state requirement for adults. Workers under 18 must get a 30-minute meal period after five consecutive hours of work.
Source: Pennsylvania Child Labor Act

Leaving a job

Final paycheck if fired or laid offDue no later than the next regular payday on which the wages would otherwise be paid. If the employee asks, the employer must send it by certified mail.
Source: Wage Payment and Collection Law, § 5(a) (43 P.S. § 260.5)
Final paycheck if you quitDue no later than the next regular payday, the same as when the employer ends the job. Certified mail on request.
Source: Wage Payment and Collection Law, § 5(a) (43 P.S. § 260.5)
Unused vacation / PTO payoutNot required by law. Paid sick leave, holiday pay and other pay for hours not worked are generally protected only when the employer expressly promised them in official documents, such as an employee handbook or memo; then the employer must follow that promise.
Source: Wage Payment and Collection Law (43 P.S. § 260.1 et seq.)
Unemployment benefitsThe Department of Labor & Industry's Office of Unemployment Compensation handles claims. File online through the state's UC online system (benefits.uc.pa.gov) at any time, or call 1-888-313-7284, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Source: Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law

Firing, retaliation and discrimination

Job discrimination complaintsPennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). The state law covers employers with four or more employees. In general, a complaint must be filed within 180 days of the discrimination. File online, by phone at 717-787-4410, or through a regional office.
Source: Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (43 P.S. § 951 et seq.)

Where to get help in Pennsylvania

Employment Law FAQ

What is the minimum wage in Pennsylvania?
$7.25 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage. No increase is scheduled.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Pennsylvania?
$2.83 per hour cash wage. The employer may count tips toward the rest of the minimum wage only for workers who receive more than $135 a month in tips. Employers may not deduct credit card or other payment-processing fees from an employee's tips.
What are the overtime rules in Pennsylvania?
Time and one-half the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. No general daily overtime rule.
Are breaks required by law in Pennsylvania?
No state requirement for adults. Workers under 18 must get a 30-minute meal period after five consecutive hours of work.
When do I get my final paycheck if I'm fired in Pennsylvania?
Due no later than the next regular payday on which the wages would otherwise be paid. If the employee asks, the employer must send it by certified mail.
When do I get my final paycheck if I quit in Pennsylvania?
Due no later than the next regular payday, the same as when the employer ends the job. Certified mail on request.
Does an employer have to pay out unused PTO in Pennsylvania?
Not required by law. Paid sick leave, holiday pay and other pay for hours not worked are generally protected only when the employer expressly promised them in official documents, such as an employee handbook or memo; then the employer must follow that promise.
How often must employees be paid in Pennsylvania?
On regular paydays the employer sets in advance. Wages for a pay period must be paid within the time set in a written contract, or within the time customary in the trade, or otherwise within 15 days after the pay period ends. Overtime may be paid in the next pay period.
Where do I file a job discrimination complaint in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). The state law covers employers with four or more employees. In general, a complaint must be filed within 180 days of the discrimination. File online, by phone at 717-787-4410, or through a regional office.
How do I apply for unemployment in Pennsylvania?
The Department of Labor & Industry's Office of Unemployment Compensation handles claims. File online through the state's UC online system (benefits.uc.pa.gov) at any time, or call 1-888-313-7284, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Employment Law in other states

More Pennsylvania 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.