Tulsa, OK Employment Preemption: Minimum Wage Preemption (2026)
Key Facts
- State floor
- $7.25 per hour
- Tipped base
- $2.13 plus tips
- Preemption statute
- OK 40-160.4
- City carveout
- Contractors only
Summary
Oklahoma Statute 40-160.4 bars Tulsa and every other Oklahoma city from setting a private-sector minimum wage. The state floor matches the federal $7.25 per hour. Tulsa can only regulate its own contractor wages.
Mandated minimum wage - Minimum number of vacation or sick leave days. As a matter of public policy and due to an overriding state interest, the Legislature hereby occupies and preempts the entire field of legislation in this state touching in any way mandated minimum wage and employee benefits regarding mandatory minimum number of vacation or sick leave days. No municipality or other political subdivision of this state shall establish a mandatory minimum number of vacation or sick leave days, whether paid or unpaid, or a minimum wage rate which an employer would be required to pay or grant employees. Any existing or future ordinances, orders or regulations in this field, except as may be specifically provided in this section, are null and void.
Full Breakdown
Oklahoma adopted Title 40 Section 160.4 in 2014, expressly preempting any city or county from adopting a minimum wage, paid leave, or vacation-benefit ordinance covering private employers. The state minimum wage tracks the federal $7.25 per hour. Tipped workers can earn $2.13 plus tips if total compensation reaches the minimum. Any Tulsa effort to raise wages citywide would be void. Tulsa's living-wage Ordinance 22023 only covers city contractors, which falls outside the preemption. Federal Fair Labor Standards Act and Oklahoma Department of Labor handle enforcement.
Violations & Fines
Tulsa cannot enact a higher private-sector minimum wage. Employers paying below $7.25 per hour, or below $2.13 base for tipped workers without making up tips, face state and federal back-pay claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could Tulsa raise its minimum wage?
Are paid sick days required in Tulsa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tulsa
Compare Tulsa to another location·View the Oklahoma employment preemption overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.