Kansas Minimum Wage Preemption Law: Statewide Employment Preemption Rules (2026)

Full Breakdown

K.S.A. 12-16,130 preempts local minimum wage regulation, requiring all private employers in Kansas to follow the state minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which mirrors the federal floor under the Fair Labor Standards Act. No Kansas city or county may enact a higher local minimum wage, living wage ordinance, or wage floor for private sector workers. Public employers, public contracts, and certain prevailing wage situations may follow separate rules. Tipped employees follow the federal tipped minimum wage with required make-up to the standard rate.

Violations & Penalties

Local wage ordinances above the state minimum are unenforceable under K.S.A. 12-16,130.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Kansas city raise its minimum wage above $7.25?

No, K.S.A. 12-16,130 prohibits cities and counties from setting a higher local minimum wage.

Does Kansas preemption apply to public contracts?

Public sector and prevailing wage situations may have separate rules outside the private wage preemption.

Sources

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Kansas Minimum Wage Local Preemption Law