Employment & Worker Protection · West Virginia
West Virginia Minimum Wage
W.Va. Code 21-5C-2 - enacted in West Virginia.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2015
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 28/100
- West Virginia strictness
The bottom line
West Virginia Minimum Wage is an enacted law in West Virginia, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2016-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 28/100
- West Virginia strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official West Virginia legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: West Virginia Minimum Wage
West Virginia Minimum Wage (W.Va. Code 21-5C-2) is an enacted law in West Virginia under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2015-01-01 and becomes effective on 2016-01-01. West Virginia currently reports 2 tracked regulations with 2 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 28/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places West Virginia within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in W.Va. Code 21-5C-2 itself.
Applicability under West Virginia Minimum Wage: Employers with 6+ employees in WV. Penalty exposure is documented as: Division of Labor enforcement. Notable exemptions: Employers with 5 or fewer employees (federal rate)..
Summary
West Virginia minimum wage $8.75/hr. Applies to employers with 6+ employees.
Key Requirements
$8.75/hr for employers with 6+ employees. Tipped: $2.62/hr + tips to $8.75.
Penalties
Division of Labor enforcement.
Applicability
Employers with 6+ employees in WV.
Exemptions
Employers with 5 or fewer employees (federal rate).
Official Source
https://labor.wv.gov/Wages/Minimum_Wage/Pages/default.aspxHow West Virginia compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - West Virginia ranks #36 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. West Virginia is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was West Virginia Minimum Wage enacted?
West Virginia Minimum Wage was enacted on 2015-01-01 and became effective on 2016-01-01. It was introduced as W.Va. Code 21-5C-2.
What are the penalties for violating West Virginia Minimum Wage?
Division of Labor enforcement. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does West Virginia Minimum Wage apply to small businesses?
Employers with 6+ employees in WV. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does West Virginia compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
West Virginia has a regulatory strictness score of 28/100, based on 2 enacted regulations out of 2 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of West Virginia Minimum Wage?
The official text of West Virginia Minimum Wage (W.Va. Code 21-5C-2) is available from the West Virginia legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
Regulation Guides
Plain-language guides to help you understand the broader regulatory landscape.
Explore Regulations
Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More West Virginia Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- West Virginia Minimum Wage is enacted in West Virginia, effective 2016-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; West Virginia ranks #36 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation West Virginia tracks across all five policy areas. West Virginia profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official West Virginia source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.