- New Hampshire's rates at a glance
- Why the rate follows Washington
- The tipped base wage
- The new-worker and under-16 rates
- Who the minimum wage leaves out
- Overtime and seasonal businesses
- Weekly or biweekly paydays
- Meal breaks
- New Hampshire against its neighbours
- Mistakes New Hampshire employers make
- Where the payment rules live
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
The minimum wage in New Hampshire is $7.25 an hour as of October 2026, because state law ties it to the federal minimum wage. Tipped restaurant and hotel staff who get more than $30 a month in tips can be paid a base of $3.27 an hour, with tips bringing them to at least $7.25.
New Hampshire is the only New England state paying the federal floor. The rule sits in RSA 279:21, and the New Hampshire Department of Labor administers it. This page draws on the statute's text, the department's wage and hour page, and the U.S. Department of Labor's state, tipped, history, payday and meal break tables, read in October 2026.
New Hampshire's rates at a glance
| Rule | New Hampshire (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $7.25 an hour (the federal rate) |
| Tipped base wage | $3.27 an hour |
| Maximum tip credit | $3.98 an hour |
| Tipped employee test | More than $30 a month in tips |
| Overtime | Time and a half after 40 hours a week |
Why the rate follows Washington
RSA 279:21 says no employer may pay an hourly rate lower than the one set in the federal minimum wage law, as amended. So New Hampshire has no separate dollar figure of its own: when the federal rate changes, the state rate changes with it. The federal rate has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009, and the Department of Labor's history table shows New Hampshire at $7.25 every year since.
The tipped base wage
The statute covers tipped employees of a restaurant, cigar bar, hotel, motel, inn or cabin, or ballroom who customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips directly from customers. They get a base rate from the employer set as a share of the minimum, which the federal tipped table lists as $3.27 an hour, with a tip credit of up to $3.98. If tips don't make up the gap to $7.25, the employer pays the difference. My guide to tip pooling covers shared tip pots.
The new-worker and under-16 rates
Here's the part most New Hampshire guides leave out. RSA 279:21 lets an employer pay a person with less than 6 months' experience in an occupation at least three quarters of the minimum, but only after the employer files an application with the labor commissioner within 10 days of hire. A person aged 16 or under can also be paid at least three quarters of the minimum, as long as evidence of the person's age is kept on file.
Who the minimum wage leaves out
- Household and domestic labour, farm labour and outside salespeople.
- Employees of summer camps for minors.
- Newsboys, non-professional ski patrollers and golf caddies.
- Ski area staff who only do welcoming and guest relations work not essential to the ski area's operations.
Overtime and seasonal businesses
Covered employees get time and a half for hours over 40 in a week. The statute carves out some amusement, seasonal or recreational businesses, for example ones that operate for no more than 7 months in a calendar year. If you run a summer attraction or a ski business, check those tests before skipping overtime. My overtime laws guide covers the federal side.
Weekly or biweekly paydays
This is the rule that trips up businesses moving in from other states. The federal payday table says New Hampshire requires weekly or biweekly payment of wages. Semi-monthly or monthly pay is only allowed with written permission from the New Hampshire Department of Labor, and the department offers a form to request payment other than weekly or biweekly.
Meal breaks
The federal meal break table says New Hampshire employees get half an hour after 5 consecutive hours, unless it's feasible for the employee to eat while working and the employer permits it. The rule applies to any employer.
Maine, its neighbour to the east, sets a much higher rate with a scheduled rise and local rates in Portland, as our Maine minimum wage guide explains.
New Hampshire against its neighbours
| State | Basic minimum wage (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $7.25 |
| Maine | $15.10 |
| Vermont | $14.42 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 |
Every neighbour pays roughly double. A business in Nashua with staff over the line in Massachusetts runs two very different pay floors, and my Massachusetts minimum wage guide covers that side.
Mistakes New Hampshire employers make
- Paying a new worker the reduced rate without filing the application within 10 days.
- Running a monthly payroll without written permission from the department.
- Applying the tipped base to staff outside the listed hospitality businesses.
- Skipping the 30-minute break after 5 hours when staff can't eat while working.
Where the payment rules live
The department's wage and hour page lists the laws it administers, including the New Hampshire Administrative Rules Chapter Lab 800 on payment of wages and requirements of employers, and Chapter Lab 1000 on youth employment. It also runs an online wage claim form for workers who haven't been paid. Employers with questions can call the department on 603-271-3176.
Connecticut also makes weekly paydays the default, but with a far higher rate and a rise on the way, as the Connecticut minimum wage guide explains.
My verdict
New Hampshire's $7.25 is the lowest rate in New England, and it will only move when the federal rate does. The rules to watch are elsewhere: the tipped base of $3.27, the 10-day filing for the new-worker rate, and the weekly or biweekly pay rule. Get those right and New Hampshire is one of the simpler states to run payroll in.
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Related: the golf page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in New Hampshire?
It's $7.25 an hour as of October 2026, tied by state law to the federal minimum wage.
What is the tipped minimum wage in New Hampshire?
The tipped base wage is $3.27 an hour, with tips bringing the total to at least $7.25.
Who counts as a tipped employee in New Hampshire?
Staff in restaurants, hotels and similar businesses who regularly get more than $30 a month in tips directly from customers.
Can New Hampshire employers pay new workers less?
Yes, at least three quarters of the minimum for someone with under 6 months' experience, after an application within 10 days of hire.
How often must New Hampshire employers pay?
Weekly or biweekly, unless the Department of Labor gives written permission for less often.
Does New Hampshire require meal breaks?
Yes. Half an hour after 5 consecutive hours, unless the employee can eat while working and the employer allows it.
Will New Hampshire's minimum wage go up?
Only if the federal minimum wage rises, because the state rate follows the federal law.
Is New Hampshire's minimum wage lower than its neighbours?
Yes. Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts all pay roughly double as of October 2026.
Can a New Hampshire employee file a wage claim online?
Yes. The New Hampshire Department of Labor offers an online wage claim form.
