Arlington vs Fort Worth
How do minimum wage preemption rules compare between Arlington, TX and Fort Worth, TX?
Arlington and Fort Worth have similar restriction levels.
Arlington, TX
Tarrant County
Arlington cannot set a local minimum wage. Texas Labor Code Section 62.0515 preempts cities from raising wages above the state floor, which mirrors the federal $7.25 per hour established by the Fair Labor Standards Act.
View full Arlington rules →Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County
Texas Labor Code Chapter 62 reserves minimum-wage authority to the state and ties Texas to the federal $7.25 floor. Fort Worth cannot enact a higher city minimum, so federal Fair Labor Standards Act rules govern private employers operating in the city.
View full Fort Worth rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington | Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $7.25 per hour | - |
| Tipped wage | $2.13 per hour | - |
| Preempted by | Texas Labor Code 62.0515 | - |
| Last federal raise | July 2009 | - |
| Texas statute | - | Texas Labor Code Ch. 62 |
| Preemption section | - | Sec. 62.0515 |
| Standard rate | - | $7.25 federal floor |
| Tipped cash wage | - | $2.13 plus tips |
| Fort Worth city authority | - | Preempted for private employers |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington FAQ
Can Arlington raise the minimum wage?
No. Texas Labor Code Section 62.0515 preempts cities and counties from setting a higher local minimum wage. Any Arlington ordinance attempting to raise wages above $7.25 would be void.
Are city contractors covered by a higher wage?
Texas does not authorize a separate local prevailing wage for general city contracts. Public works follow Texas Government Code Chapter 2258, which uses locality-based prevailing wages, not a city minimum.
Fort Worth FAQ
Can Fort Worth set its own minimum wage above $7.25?
No. Texas Labor Code Section 62.0515 preempts any city or county ordinance that raises the wage above the state floor. Only the Texas Legislature can change the rate.
Does Fort Worth pay its own employees more than $7.25?
Yes. Fort Worth City Council policy sets a higher internal living wage for direct city employees and many contractors, but this binds only the city, not private employers operating in Fort Worth.
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