Massachusetts Minimum Wage and Local Wage Authority

MGL Chapter 151 establishes Massachusetts wage and hour law, including the statewide minimum wage which reached $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2023. The tipped minimum wage is $6.75, with employers required to ensure total compensation reaches the regular minimum. Massachusetts case law and statutory framework treat wage levels as a matter of statewide concern, generally preempting municipalities from setting different rates for private employers. However, cities may impose higher wage floors for their own employees and contractors through living wage ordinances such as those in Boston and Cambridge.

Wage violations carry treble damages, attorney fees, and Attorney General civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation under MGL Chapter 149 Section 27C.