Wage and hour rules for employees in Virginia — overtime, minimum wage, meal and rest breaks and the final paycheck — compared with federal law, with links to the official sources.
Virginia minimum wage
$12.77 per hour as of July 1, 2026 (federal: $7.25).
Adjusted annually by formula.
Federal law The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
Virginia final paycheck
Fired or laid off: Must be paid all wages due by the date they would have been paid had employment continued (the next regular payday). Quit: Same rule as for discharge: by the next regular payday. The statute says 'upon termination of employment' and does not distinguish the reason or notice.
Citation: Va. Code § 40.1-29(B)
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
- 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.