Employers in Oklahoma should adhere to their own policies regarding the payment of unused, accrued vacation time and other forms of paid time off to employees who have separated from employment.
Oklahoma Labor Laws
Oklahoma Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Oklahoma has been set at $7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009. The state follows the federal minimum wage rate by reference.
Oklahoma Labor Law Posters
Simplify labor law compliance and make workplace policies visible with J. J. Keller state and federal labor law posters.
History of Oklahoma Labor Laws
Prior to being set at $7.25 per hour in 2009, the minimum wage in Oklahoma was $6.55 per hour.
Municipality Minimum Wage Laws
Cities and counties in Oklahoma are not allowed to set minimum wage rates higher than the state rate due to a preemption law, SB 1023, enacted in 2014.
Oklahoma Minimum Wage Exemptions
The following workers are exempt from the Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act:
- Workers on a farm, ranch, or with animals on a farm or ranch, including mechanics
- Maids
- Federal government employees
- Volunteers for charities, churches, or nonprofit clubs
- Newspaper vendors or carriers
- Railroad workers
- Workers already earning the federal minimum wage or more
- Executives, administrative employees, professionals, and outside salespersons
- Part-time employees not on permanent status (defined as working less than 25 hours a week)
- Individuals under 18 who haven’t graduated from school, and those under 22 who are still in school
- Employees in feedstores
- Reserve deputy sheriffs
Oklahoma Posting Requirements
Required posters:
- Minimum Wage
- Fair Employment
- Child Labor
- Unemployment Insurance
- Workers' Compensation
Tipped Wage in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, the tipped minimum wage is $2.13 per hour, which aligns with the federal tipped minimum wage.
Overtime Wage in Oklahoma
Employers in Oklahoma are required to pay one-and-a-half times the regular rate of pay for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Oklahoma employers should adhere to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for determining overtime exemptions, which include certain executive, administrative, and professional employees.
Child Labor Laws in Oklahoma
Work Hours for 14- and 15-Year-Old Minors in Oklahoma
During the School Year:
- Up to 3 hours on a school day (Monday through Friday)
- Up to 8 hours on a non-school day (days when attendance isn’t required)
- Up to 18 hours in a school week
- If school is out for an entire week and attendance isn’t required, the limit increases to 40 hours
During the Summer Break:
- Up to 8 hours per day
- Up to 40 hours in a week (note: these minors may not work overtime)
Time Restrictions:
- From the Tuesday after Labor Day to May 31st:
- May not work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. (extended to 9 p.m. on days followed by non-school days for some employers not subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act)
- From June 1st to Labor Day:
- May not work before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
Employer Recordkeeping Requirements in Oklahoma
Oklahoma employers are required to maintain the following records for at least three years:
- Employee’s full name and Social Security number
- Address, including zip code
- Birth date, if younger than 19
- Sex and occupation
- Time and day of the week when the employee’s workweek begins
- Hours worked each day and total hours worked each workweek
- Basis on which the employee’s wages are paid
- Regular hourly pay rate
- Total daily or weekly straight-time earnings
- Total overtime earnings for the workweek
- All additions to or deductions from the employee’s wages
- Total wages paid each pay period
- Date of payment and the pay period covered by the payment
Oklahoma Labor Law Questions & Answers
Employers with 10 or more full-time workers in one location or with annual business revenue exceeding $100,000 are subject to the Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act and must pay $7.25 per hour. Other businesses are required to pay at least $2 per hour according to state law.
For 14- and 15-year-old minors:
- From the Tuesday after Labor Day to May 31st, they may not work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. (extended to 9 p.m. on days followed by non-school days for some employers not subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act).
- From June 1st to Labor Day, they may not work before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
Employers in Oklahoma can require employees to work overtime and can change workers’ hours without notice. If an employee works more than 40 hours in a workweek, the employer must pay time-and-a-half the regular rate of pay.
For employees aged 16 and older, breaks are not mandatory. However, minors aged 14 and 15 must be given a one-hour cumulative rest period for every eight hours worked consecutively or a 30-minute rest period for every five hours worked consecutively.
Oklahoma Labor Law Posters
Simplify labor law compliance and make workplace policies visible with J. J. Keller state and federal labor law posters.