So, You Want to Be a High Roller in Texas? A Guide to the Lone Star State's Minimum Wage (and How Not to End Up Eating Gruel)
Howdy, partner! Dreaming of two-stepping your way to a fortune in the great state of Texas? Well, hold your horses (or should we say, armadillos?) before you saddle up and hit the dusty trail. Let's talk about that bread and butter, the almighty dollar, specifically the minimum wage.
Minimum Wage? More Like Minimum Moolah!
Texas, bless its heart, boasts a brand of freedom that extends to...well, keeping the minimum wage nice and low. As of today, April 28th, 2024, a whopping $7.25 per hour is the minimum an employer needs to pay you by law. That's the same as the federal minimum wage, folks. So, while Texas boasts big skies and even bigger egos, when it comes to minimum wage, it ain't exactly highfalutin'.
Hold on a sec, partner, isn't there more to the story?
You bet your chaps there is! Buckle up, because we're about to explore the thrilling world of exceptions, where minimum wage takes on a whole new meaning (mostly because lawyers got involved).
Tipping Our Hats (and Hoping for the Best) to Tipped Employees
Serving up smiles (and hopefully some decent salsa) at a Tex-Mex joint? If you fall under the category of a "tipped employee," then the minimum wage math gets a little fancy. Here's the gist: your employer only has to pay you $2.13 per hour in cold, hard cash. The rest of your wage is supposed to come from those sweet, sweet tips. Now, this can work out great if you're slinging margaritas at a tourist hotspot, but let's be honest, there are some shifts where tumbleweeds might be your biggest tippers.
Pro Tip: If you find yourself consistently making less than minimum wage with tips, your employer might be breaking the law. There are regulations about how much can be counted towards your wages from tips, so do some research, partner!
Don't Get Stuck at the Kiddie Table: Minimum Wage for Young Guns
Maybe you're a spry young buck just starting out in the workforce. Well, Texas has a special surprise for you (and by surprise, we mean a slightly lower minimum wage). If you're under 20 years old, in some cases, your employer can pay you a whopping 85% of the federal minimum wage. That translates to a cool $6.19 per hour. Hey, every penny counts, right?
But here's the good news, young grasshopper! This special minimum wage only applies during your first six months of employment. After that, you shoot up to the big leagues of the regular $7.25 minimum wage.
The Final Roundup: Minimum Wage in Texas, It Ain't Fancy, But It Gets the Job Done (Maybe)
So, there you have it, folks. A crash course in the thrilling world of minimum wage in Texas. It ain't gonna make you a millionaire overnight, but it'll keep you in boots and a ten-gallon hat, at least. Remember, Texas is all about opportunity, and hey, who knows? Maybe that minimum wage job will be the first step on your journey to becoming an oil tycoon (or at least afford you a decent plate of barbecue).
