Wage and hour rules for employees in Texas — overtime, minimum wage, meal and rest breaks and the final paycheck — compared with federal law, with links to the official sources.
Texas final paycheck
Fired or laid off: Must be paid in full no later than the 6th day after discharge. Quit: Anyone leaving other than by discharge (quit/resign) must be paid in full by the next regularly scheduled payday. No distinction for notice.
Citation: Tex. Labor Code Sec. 61.014
Federal law Federal law does not require immediate payment of final wages; they are due by the next regular payday.
Same as federal law
- Minimum wage
- State rate $7.25 per hour; the federal $7.25 applies to jobs covered by the FLSA.
- Overtime
- The U.S. Department of Labor lists no state overtime premium for this state; the federal FLSA rule (1.5× after 40 hours a week) applies to covered employers.
- Meal breaks
- The U.S. Department of Labor’s state table lists no meal-period requirement for adult employees in the private sector in this state, so the federal rule applies: meal breaks are not required.
- Rest breaks
- No state requirement for paid rest breaks for adult employees in the private sector (“States not listed do not require paid rest periods” — U.S. Department of Labor). Federal law does not require breaks either; short breaks that are given must be paid.
Find your state labor department (U.S. Department of Labor directory). Data last reviewed September 28, 2026.