Wage and hour rules for employees in Oregon — overtime, minimum wage, meal and rest breaks and the final paycheck — compared with federal law, with links to the official sources.
Oregon minimum wage
$15.55 per hour as of July 1, 2026 (federal: $7.25).
- $16.80 — Portland metro area
- $15.55 — Standard rate
- $14.55 — Non-urban counties
Federal law The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
Oregon meal breaks
½ hour, with relief from all duty, for each work period of 6 to 8 hours, between 2nd and 5th hour for work period of 7 hours or less and between 3rd and 6th hour for work period over 7 hours; or, less than ½ hour but not less than 20 minutes, with pay, with relief from all duty, where employer can show that such a paid meal period is industry practice or custom; or, where employer can show that nature of work prevents relief from all duty, an eating period with pay while on duty for each period of 6 to 8 hours.
Coverage: Applicable to every employer, except employees covered by collective bargaining agreement.
Federal law Federal law does not require meal breaks. A bona fide meal period (usually 30 minutes or more) when the employee is completely relieved from duty does not have to be paid.
Oregon rest breaks
Paid 10-minute rest period for every 4-hours worked or major portion thereof in one work period; as feasible, approximately in middle of each segment of work period.
Coverage: Applicable to every employer, except employees covered by collective bargaining agreement.
Federal law Federal law does not require rest breaks. Short breaks (usually 5 to 20 minutes), when offered, count as hours worked and must be paid.
Oregon final paycheck
Fired or laid off: By the end of the first business day after the discharge. The same applies when employment ends by mutual agreement. Quit: With at least 48 hours' notice: immediately, on the last day. Without that notice: within 5 business days (not counting weekends and holidays) or on the next regular payday, whichever comes first. Special rule: if the employee quits without notice and is required to submit time records, the employer pays its estimate of wages owed, and all remaining wages are due within 5 days after the records are submitted.
Citation: ORS 652.140
Federal law Federal law does not require immediate payment of final wages; they are due by the next regular payday.
Same as federal law
- Overtime
- State law also requires overtime at 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. Coverage and exemptions can differ from federal law.
Find your state labor department (U.S. Department of Labor directory). Data last reviewed September 28, 2026.