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Minimum Wage: Definition of Minimum Wage

By Susan M. Heathfield, About.com

Definition:

After the third increase in three years, on July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage for covered, nonexempt employees was raised to $7.25 per hour. The federal minimum wage provisions are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Many states also have minimum wage laws. Check your state for its minimum wage requirements. Where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages.

Various minimum wage exceptions apply under specific circumstances to workers with disabilities, full-time students, youth under age 20 in their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment, tipped employees and student-learners.

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