Dallas cannot set a citywide private-sector minimum wage. Tex. Lab. Code § 62.0515 preempts municipalities, leaving the Texas Minimum Wage Act floor of $7.25/hour (matched to federal FLSA) as the binding rate. Tipped employees can be paid $2.13/hour cash with tips making up the difference to $7.25.
Texas Labor Code Chapter 62 (Texas Minimum Wage Act) ties the state floor to the federal FLSA rate, currently $7.25/hour. Section 62.0515 strips Texas cities of authority to adopt minimum wage rules for private employment. Dallas City Council adopted a $13.50 living wage for full-time City employees and certain City service contractors in 2015 (raised to $15.85 effective FY 2024-25 per City policy), but that policy reaches only the City workforce and direct contractors — not private employers operating in Dallas. The Texas Workforce Commission enforces the statewide $7.25 rate; the U.S. DOL Wage & Hour Division enforces the federal FLSA in parallel.
Wage claims may be filed with the Texas Workforce Commission under Tex. Lab. Code Ch. 61 within 180 days, or with the U.S. DOL Wage & Hour Division. FLSA remedies include back wages plus equal liquidated damages for willful violations (29 U.S.C. § 216(b)), and civil money penalties up to $2,374 per violation for repeat or willful offenders.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Dallas, TX
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