Kansas maintains the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr.
Kansas law explicitly adopts the federal minimum wage standard of $7.25 per hour for non-exempt employees. Crucially, state preemption statutes prevent local jurisdictions from enacting higher minimum wage ordinances, ensuring statewide uniformity at the federal floor. This fixed rate simplifies compliance but offers no additional wage protections beyond federal law.
Kansas Minimum Wage
KSA 44-1203 mirrors federal $7.25/hr. State preemption blocks counties and municipalities from setting higher minimum wages. Tipped $2.13 cash + tip credit. KS-specific $20/month tipped threshold (lower than federal $30/month).
What those rules do as a Kansas shift is created.
Teambridge applies the Kansas minimum wage standard proactively, ensuring that all non-exempt employee shifts are compensated at or above the federal floor. This includes specific handling for tipped employees, calculating tip credits, and flagging any potential underpayments based on the unique Kansas threshold.
Prevents local wage overrides
Because Kansas law includes state preemption, Teambridge ignores any local minimum wage ordinances that might be proposed in cities like Wichita or Overland Park, adhering strictly to the statewide federal minimum.
Flags tipped employee earnings
For employees classified as tipped, Teambridge monitors their actual tip earnings against the Kansas-specific $20/month threshold. If an employee does not consistently meet this threshold, Teambridge flags the shift, ensuring the employer makes up the difference to the full minimum wage.
Calculates effective hourly rate
For each shift, the platform calculates the effective hourly rate, including any applicable tip credits, to verify compliance with the $7.25/hr minimum for non-tipped work and the combined cash wage plus tips for tipped employees.
Compliance, on autopilot.
Stop stressing about the rules. Teambridge handles the toughest state and local regulations for you.
Kansas adopts the FLSA minimum wage, prohibiting local variation.
Kansas statute KSA 44-1203 directly incorporates the federal minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This means the standard minimum wage for non-exempt employees in Kansas is $7.25 per hour. Importantly, Kansas law also preempts local governments from establishing their own minimum wage rates, ensuring statewide adherence to the federal floor.
K.S.A. § 44-1203. Minimum wage; exceptions; definitions.
...[E]very employer shall pay to each employee wages at a rate of not less than the current federal minimum wage, as established under the federal fair labor standards act of 1938, as amended (29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.).
...No county or municipality shall establish a minimum wage rate that exceeds the minimum wage rate established under this section.
Tipped Employees and Tip Credit
For employees who regularly receive tips, Kansas law mirrors federal regulations, allowing employers to pay a direct cash wage of $2.13 per hour, provided that the employee's tips, when combined with this cash wage, equal or exceed the standard minimum wage. If the combined amount does not reach $7.25 per hour, the employer must make up the difference. A key distinction in Kansas is the threshold for classifying an employee as "tipped": an employee must customarily and regularly receive more than $20 per month in tips to be considered a tipped employee for minimum wage purposes, which is lower than the federal $30 per month threshold.
Preemption of Local Ordinances
Kansas has enacted clear legislative preemption, explicitly stating that local governments (counties and municipalities) are prohibited from establishing their own minimum wage rates that exceed the state-mandmandated federal minimum. This means that even if a city like Kansas City, Kansas, or Topeka wished to implement a higher minimum wage, state law would prevent them from doing so. This preemption simplifies compliance for employers operating across different jurisdictions within Kansas, as they only need to adhere to the single federal standard.
Teambridge automates Kansas minimum wage compliance, including nuanced tipped employee rules.
Teambridge integrates Kansas's specific minimum wage requirements directly into its payroll and scheduling systems. From enforcing the federal $7.25/hr floor to precisely managing tip credits and the state's unique $20/month tipped threshold, our platform ensures every paycheck is compliant without manual intervention or constant monitoring.
Guarantees $7.25/hr minimum
Every non-exempt hour worked in Kansas is automatically compensated at no less than $7.25, with real-time alerts for any potential underpayment scenarios that might arise from complex scheduling or pay adjustments.
Manages cash wage and tip credit
For tipped employees, Teambridge ensures the $2.13/hr cash wage is paid, then monitors actual tips to confirm the combined earnings meet the $7.25/hr minimum. Any shortfall is automatically calculated and added to their pay.
Tracks and adjusts tipped status
The platform continuously assesses if an employee consistently meets the Kansas $20/month tipped earnings threshold. If an employee falls below this, their classification is adjusted, and they are paid the full non-tipped minimum wage for those periods.
Ignores local wage ordinances
Teambridge is pre-configured to recognize and enforce Kansas's state preemption laws, ensuring that no local minimum wage ordinances are inadvertently applied, maintaining consistent compliance across all Kansas operations.
People also ask.
What is the current minimum wage in Kansas?
As of 2026, the minimum wage in Kansas is $7.25 per hour, mirroring the federal minimum wage established under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Can cities or counties in Kansas set their own minimum wage?
No, Kansas state law (KSA 44-1203) explicitly includes a preemption clause that prohibits any county or municipality from establishing a minimum wage rate higher than the state-mandated federal minimum wage.
What is the minimum wage for tipped employees in Kansas?
The direct cash wage for tipped employees in Kansas is $2.13 per hour. Employers can take a tip credit, provided that the employee's tips, when combined with the cash wage, meet or exceed the standard $7.25 per hour minimum wage.
What is the "tipped threshold" in Kansas?
In Kansas, an employee must customarily and regularly receive more than $20 per month in tips to be considered a tipped employee. This is lower than the federal threshold of $30 per month.
What happens if a tipped employee doesn't earn enough in tips?
If an employee's combined cash wage ($2.13/hr) and tips do not equal at least the full minimum wage ($7.25/hr), the employer is legally obligated to make up the difference to ensure the employee receives the full minimum wage for all hours worked.
Does the Kansas minimum wage apply to all employees?
The Kansas Minimum Wage and Hour Law generally covers most employees, with some specific exemptions similar to those under the FLSA, such as certain agricultural workers, executive, administrative, and professional employees, and some seasonal recreational establishment employees. It's important to consult the full statute for specific exemptions.