Employment & Worker Protection · New Hampshire
New Hampshire Minimum Wage
RSA 279:21 - enacted in New Hampshire.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2009
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 31/100
- New Hampshire strictness
The bottom line
New Hampshire Minimum Wage is an enacted law in New Hampshire, 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
- New Hampshire strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official New Hampshire legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: New Hampshire Minimum Wage
New Hampshire Minimum Wage (RSA 279:21) is an enacted law in New Hampshire under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2009-07-24 and becomes effective on 2009-07-24. New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in RSA 279:21 itself.
Applicability under New Hampshire Minimum Wage: All New Hampshire employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: Dept of Labor enforcement. Civil action. Notable exemptions: Agriculture, domestic service, outside salespeople..
Summary
New Hampshire minimum wage equals federal $7.25/hr. Tipped workers: 45% of federal min.
Key Requirements
$7.25/hr. Tipped: 45% of minimum ($3.26/hr) + tips. Youth 14-17 (first 6 months): $5.25/hr.
Penalties
Dept of Labor enforcement. Civil action.
Applicability
All New Hampshire employers.
Exemptions
Agriculture, domestic service, outside salespeople.
Official Source
https://www.labor.nh.gov/employers/minimumwage.htmHow New Hampshire compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - New Hampshire ranks #32 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. New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Minimum Wage enacted?
New Hampshire Minimum Wage was enacted on 2009-07-24 and became effective on 2009-07-24. It was introduced as RSA 279:21.
What are the penalties for violating New Hampshire Minimum Wage?
Dept of Labor enforcement. Civil action. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does New Hampshire Minimum Wage apply to small businesses?
All New Hampshire employers. 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 New Hampshire compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Minimum Wage?
The official text of New Hampshire Minimum Wage (RSA 279:21) is available from the New Hampshire legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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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 New Hampshire Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- New Hampshire Minimum Wage is enacted in New Hampshire, effective 2009-07-24. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; New Hampshire ranks #32 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation New Hampshire tracks across all five policy areas. New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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.