Find out in 60 seconds if your pay is actually legal.
For workers, laborers and helpers who suspect the rate doesn't add up. Checks your pay against the federal $7.25 and your state's 2026 minimum wage, whichever is higher.
Sound familiar?
- “You're paying a helper or apprentice and want to be sure the rate is legal in your state.”
- “Your state minimum wage just went up and you're not sure your pay still clears it.”
- “You've heard the federal and state minimums differ and you don't know which one applies to you.”
What this tool does
Checks your effective hourly rate against the federal minimum wage and your state's 2026 minimum, whichever is higher. It does not cover tipped wages, overtime, or prevailing-wage jobs. Those have separate rules.
If you take an action based on what you read here, that action is yours. We are a guide, not an advisor, and we give this away for free.
This tool helps you get started on your job. It's a starting point, you must review and adapt the output to your specific site conditions. SiteKiln does not provide health and safety, legal, tax or financial consultancy. If your job involves complex or high-risk work, get professional advice.
What the law actually says
- •The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour and has been since 2009. Your state can set a higher one, and where it does, the higher rate applies.
- •Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), your pay divided by the hours you actually worked has to meet that minimum. Employer deductions for tools, uniforms or damages can't drop you below it.
- •Prevailing-wage rules (Davis-Bacon on federal jobs, and state 'little Davis-Bacon' laws) can require far more than the minimum on public construction. This tool checks the minimum only.