Puerto Rico Minimum Wage for 2023, 2024

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Puerto Rico's state minimum wage rate is $9.50 per hour. This is greater than the Federal Minimum Wage of $7.25. You are entitled to be paid the higher state minimum wage. The minimum wage applies to most employees in Puerto Rico, with limited exceptions including tipped employees, some student workers, and other exempt occupations.^†

The Puerto Rico minimum wage was last changed in 2008, when it was raised $2.95 from $6.55 to $9.50.

The minimum wage in Puerto Rico is currently $8.50 per hour. Puerto Rico has enacted the Minimum Wage Act, Act No. 47-2021, increasing the Island’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 effective January 1, 2022. Additional increases will take effect on July 1, 2023, when the minimum wage will be raised to $9.50

The Secretary of Labor and Human Resources may allow certain employers to pay a special rate below the Puerto Rico Minimum Wage if they can prove that paying the minimum wage would substantially hurt employment in their business.

Puerto Rico employers may not pay you under $9.50 per hour unless you or your occupation are specifically exempt from the minimum wage under state or federal law.

If you have questions about the Puerto Rico minimum wage, please ask us and someone will respond to you as soon as possible. Looking for a new job? Use the free Puerto Rico job search utility to find local job openings hiring now.

All Puerto Rico employers must display an approved Puerto Rico minimum wage poster in a prominent place to inform employees about the minimum wage and their worker's rights under Puerto Rico labor law.

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Puerto Rico Minimum Wage & Labor Law Posters

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Puerto Rico labor law requires all employers in Puerto Rico to visibly display an approved Puerto Rico minimum wage poster, and other Puerto Rico and federal labor law posters, to ensure that all employees are aware of federal and Puerto Rico labor law and overtime regulations. Failure to display a Puerto Rico labor law poster in the workplace can result in severe fines.

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The Puerto Rico minimum wage poster, and additional required Puerto Rico labor law posters, are also available on the Puerto Rico labor law posters download page.

Puerto Rico Overtime Minimum Wage

All workers who put in over 40 weekly hours are entitled to a minimum wage of at least 1.5 times the regular applicable minimum wage (learn more about Puerto Rico overtime pay). Some states require workers who work over a certain number of daily hours to be eligible for this overtime rate as well (Puerto Rico law does specify a daily overtime limit).

The FLSA guarantees all PR employees adequate overtime compensation for all qualifying overtime hours worked. If your employer does not pay adequate overtime wages, you can file an unpaid overtime claim with the Puerto Rico Department of Labor.

Puerto Rico Minimum Wage Exemptions

In addition to any Puerto Rico-specific minimum wage exemptions described above, the Federal Fair Labor Standards act defines special minimum wage rates applicable to certain types of workers. You may be paid under the Puerto Rico minimum wage if you fit into one of the following categories:

• Puerto Rico Under 20 Minimum Wage - $4.25 - Federal law allows any employer in Puerto Rico to pay a new employee who is under 20 years of age a training wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment.
• Puerto Rico Student Minimum Wage - $8.08 - Full-time high school or college students who work part-time may be paid 85% of the Puerto Rico minimum wage (as little as $8.08 per hour) for up to 20 hours of work per week at certain employers (such as work-study programs at universities).
• Puerto Rico Tipped Minimum Wage - See Here - Employees who earn a certain amount of tips every month may be paid a lower cash minimum wage, but must earn at least $9.50 including tips every hour. For more details, read about the Puerto Rico tipped minimum wage.

Frequently Asked Questions - Puerto Rico Minimum Wage & Labor Law

What is the Puerto Rico minimum wage?

The current Puerto Rico minimum wage of $9.50 per hour is the lowest amount a non-exempt employee in Puerto Rico can legally be paid for hourly work. Special minimum wage rates, such as the "Puerto Rico waitress minimum wage" for tipped employees, may apply to certain workers.^[1]

How much will I earn working a minimum wage jobin Puerto Rico?

A full time minimum wage worker in Puerto Rico working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, will earn $76.00 per day, $380.00 per week, and $19,760.00 per year¹. The national poverty line for a family unit consisting of two people is $16,020.00 per year.

What is the Puerto Rico under 18 minimum wage?

Puerto Rico employers may pay 18 year olds and minors the youth minimum wage of $4.25 for the first 90 days of employment. Other labor law exemptions for minors in Puerto Rico may exist.

I still can't find the answer to my question about the Puerto Rico minimum wage!

If you have read the FAQ and still cannot find the information you need, please contact us with your question.

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¹ These earnings estimates do not account for the Puerto Rico income tax , federal income tax, or local/municipal income taxes.
² Poverty line for a family of two in the lower 48 published 2016 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

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Labor Law Footnotes, Sources & Citations:

1. The weekly earnings estimate of $380.00 is based on a standard 40-hour workweek
2. The yearly earnings estimate of $19,760.00 is based on 52 standard 40-hour work weeks. Since most hourly employees don't work full time and/or take time off, actual yearly earnings will likely be lower.

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