The minimum wage in Nevada is $12.00 an hour as of October 2026, and it applies to every covered worker at one single rate. Nevada doesn't allow a tip credit, so tipped staff must be paid the full $12.00 in cash before tips.
The Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner says the rate rose to $12.00 on July 1, 2024. That same change ended the old two-tier system, where employers who offered qualifying health benefits could pay a lower rate. The figures here come from the Labor Commissioner's minimum wage page and the U.S. Department of Labor's state, tipped and history tables, read in October 2026.
Nevada's wage rules at a glance
| Rule | What it means (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $12.00 an hour |
| Tipped staff | $12.00 an hour in cash, tips on top |
| Lower rate with health benefits | Ended by Ballot Question 2 |
| Overtime trigger | Daily for lower earners, weekly for everyone |
The end of the two-tier rate
For years Nevada had two minimum wages, a lower one for employers offering qualifying health benefits and a higher one for those that didn't. The Labor Commissioner explains that Ballot Question 2, passed by voters in November 2022, eliminated that system. The Department of Labor's history table shows the split clearly, with paired rates such as $9.50/$10.50 in 2022 and $10.25/$11.25 in 2023, then a single $12.00 in 2024.
If you're working from an old handbook or a payroll template built before 2024, check it for a health-benefit rate. That lower figure no longer exists.
Daily overtime in Nevada
This is the rule most owners miss. The U.S. Department of Labor's state table says employees earning less than one and a half times the Nevada minimum wage are entitled to premium pay for hours over 8 in a single day or 40 in a single week. Employees earning at least one and a half times the minimum get premium pay only after 40 hours in a week.
- Work out each employee's hourly rate against one and a half times the $12.00 minimum.
- For staff below that line, pay time and a half for any hours over 8 in a day.
- For every non-exempt employee, pay time and a half after 40 hours in a week.
- Recheck the line whenever the minimum wage or an employee's pay changes.
So a lower-paid worker on a 10-hour shift can earn two hours of overtime even in a short week. My overtime laws guide covers which roles are exempt from overtime altogether.
Tipped workers get the full rate
Nevada is in the group of states the Department of Labor lists as requiring employers to pay tipped employees the full state minimum wage before tips. There's no cash wage of $2.13 here. Servers, bartenders and casino staff who earn tips must still get $12.00 an hour from the employer. If you share tips across roles, read my guide to tip pooling first.
Nevada's rate history
| Year (1 January) | Nevada rate |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $8.00 to $9.00 |
| 2021 | $8.75 to $9.75 |
| 2022 | $9.50 / $10.50 |
| 2023 | $10.25 / $11.25 |
| 2024 | $12.00 |
| As of October 2026 | $12.00 |
Nevada and the neighbouring states
| State | Basic minimum wage (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $12.00 |
| California | $16.90 |
| Arizona | $15.15 |
| Oregon | $15.55 standard |
| Utah | $7.25 |
| Idaho | $7.25 |
Nevada sits in the middle of the West. It pays well above Utah and Idaho, but below California and Arizona. My California minimum wage guide covers the state many Nevada businesses compete with for staff.
Who to ask in Nevada
The Office of the Labor Commissioner is Nevada's main wage and hour agency. It covers minimum wage, overtime, prevailing wage, rest and meal breaks and the employment of minors, and it publishes free minimum wage and overtime bulletins and required workplace postings. On pay timing, the Department of Labor's payday table lists Nevada as semi-monthly, with monthly allowed for executive, administrative and professional staff.
A daily overtime example
Picture an employee paid just above the $12.00 minimum who works four 10-hour shifts in a week. The week totals 40 hours, so there's no weekly overtime. But each shift runs 2 hours past the 8-hour daily line, so that employee is owed 8 hours at time and a half for the week. A colleague earning at least one and a half times the minimum, working the same pattern, is owed none.
That's why a four-day, 10-hour rota that works in most states can cost more in Nevada. If you want to run long shifts with lower-paid staff, price the daily premium in before you publish the schedule.
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Nevada payroll mistakes to avoid
- Keeping a lower health-benefit rate in your payroll system after July 2024.
- Paying tipped staff a reduced cash wage, which Nevada doesn't allow.
- Missing daily overtime for staff paid under one and a half times the minimum.
- Running a monthly payroll for hourly staff, when the payday table lists Nevada as semi-monthly.
My verdict
Nevada keeps it simple on the rate and strict on the details. Pay $12.00 an hour to everyone, tipped or not, forget the old health-benefit tier, and watch the daily overtime line for lower-paid staff. That daily trigger is where most Nevada wage claims start.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Nevada?
It's $12.00 an hour as of October 2026, a single rate for all covered workers.
Does Nevada allow a tip credit?
No. Tipped employees must be paid the full $12.00 an hour before tips.
Does Nevada still have a lower rate for employers with health benefits?
No. Ballot Question 2, passed in November 2022, ended the two-tier system.
Does Nevada have daily overtime?
Yes, for employees earning less than one and a half times the minimum wage: premium pay after 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week.
When did Nevada's minimum wage reach $12.00?
The Labor Commissioner says it rose to $12.00 an hour on July 1, 2024.
How often must Nevada employers pay staff?
The U.S. Department of Labor's payday table lists Nevada as semi-monthly, with monthly allowed for executive, administrative and professional staff.
Do Nevada restaurant and casino workers get $12.00 before tips?
Yes. Nevada requires the full $12.00 an hour in cash, with tips on top.
Who enforces Nevada's minimum wage?
The Office of the Labor Commissioner, which is Nevada's main wage and hour agency.
