Employment & Worker Protection · Kentucky
Kentucky Minimum Wage
KRS 337.275 - enacted in Kentucky.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2009
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 31/100
- Kentucky strictness
The bottom line
Kentucky Minimum Wage is an enacted law in Kentucky, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2009-07-24
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 31/100
- Kentucky strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Kentucky legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Kentucky Minimum Wage
Kentucky Minimum Wage (KRS 337.275) is an enacted law in Kentucky under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2009-07-24 and becomes effective on 2009-07-24. Kentucky currently reports 2 tracked regulations with 2 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 31/100 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 Kentucky within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in KRS 337.275 itself.
Applicability under Kentucky Minimum Wage: Employers with 2+ employees in Kentucky. Penalty exposure is documented as: Labor Cabinet enforcement. Back pay recovery. Notable exemptions: Agriculture, domestic service, outside salespeople..
Summary
Kentucky minimum wage equals federal: $7.25/hr.
Key Requirements
$7.25/hr. Tipped: $2.13/hr + tips. Preemption law prohibits local minimum wage ordinances.
Penalties
Labor Cabinet enforcement. Back pay recovery.
Applicability
Employers with 2+ employees in Kentucky.
Exemptions
Agriculture, domestic service, outside salespeople.
Official Source
https://labor.ky.gov/Standards/Pages/Minimum-Wage.aspxHow Kentucky compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Kentucky ranks #29 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. Kentucky 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 Kentucky Minimum Wage enacted?
Kentucky Minimum Wage was enacted on 2009-07-24 and became effective on 2009-07-24. It was introduced as KRS 337.275.
What are the penalties for violating Kentucky Minimum Wage?
Labor Cabinet enforcement. Back pay recovery. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Kentucky Minimum Wage apply to small businesses?
Employers with 2+ employees in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Kentucky has a regulatory strictness score of 31/100, 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 Kentucky Minimum Wage?
The official text of Kentucky Minimum Wage (KRS 337.275) is available from the Kentucky 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 Kentucky Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Kentucky Minimum Wage is enacted in Kentucky, effective 2009-07-24. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Kentucky ranks #29 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Kentucky tracks across all five policy areas. Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.