Minimum Wage in Shelby County, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee 38109

.

Memphis, TN Minimum Wage and Wage Claims

What Is the Minimum Wage in Memphis, TN?

You are entitled to the highest minimum wage that applies where you work, whether set by your city, county, or state government. (Most cities and counties don’t have their own minimum wage laws.)

Memphis Minimum Wage

The minimum wage in Memphis, Tennessee, is $7.25 an hour, the federal minimum wage. Tennessee law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the federal minimum wage. 

Shelby County Minimum Wage

The minimum wage in Shelby County is $7.25 an hour, the federal minimum wage. Tennessee law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the federal minimum wage. 

Tennessee Minimum Wage

Tennessee does not have its own minimum wage law. Therefore, employees in The Volunteer State are entitled to earn at least the federal minimum wage, $7.25 an hour. 

To learn more about the federal minimum wage, see https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage.

What Is the Tipped Minimum Wage in Memphis, TN?

Some states and local governments allow employers to pay tipped employees a lower minimum hourly wage; others don't. 

Tennessee Tipped Minimum Wage

In Tennessee, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $2.13 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $7.25 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

Advertisement

Who Enforces Memphis, TN Minimum Wage Laws?

Tennessee Enforcement Agency

If you have questions about Tennessee's minimum wage, contact the

U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division

URL: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd

Phone: 1-866-487-9243 

Find the nearest Tennessee office of the federal Wage and Hour Division at its Local Offices page, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/local-offices#tn

Email (through website): https://webapps.dol.gov/contactwhd/Default.aspx 

If you have questions about other Tennessee wage and hour laws, contact the

Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development

URL: https://www.tn.gov/workforce

Phone: 844-224-5818

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Labor Standards Unit
220 French Landing Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

How to File a Wage Claim in Memphis, TN

If you were not paid the minimum wage in Memphis, TN, you may have the right to file a wage claim or complaint with a government agency. Be sure to look at the wage claim materials (below) for the agency that enforces the law you believe was violated, whether city, county, or state. 

All jurisdictions impose a time limit on how far back you may claim unpaid wages, so it's important to file your claim quickly. There may be other restrictions on the claims you may file, such as dollar-amount limits or limits on the agency’s ability to force employers to comply with the law. You may be required to ask your employer to pay you correctly before you file a claim. And, you almost always have the option to go straight to court and file a lawsuit instead of filing a wage claim with a government agency. For these reasons, it often makes sense to talk to an experienced wage and hour lawyer to make sure you know all of your options, understand the strength of your claims, and decide how to proceed.

Filing a Wage Claim with the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development

You can find information and resources on filing a federal minimum wage claim with the Wage and Hour division of the federal Department of Labor at its website. Although Tennessee does not have a minimum wage law, it has other wage and hour laws that govern final paychecks, deductions, and more. The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development has posted information and a complaint form for these laws at its website. 

Advertisement

Get Help With Memphis, TN Wage Claims and Lawsuits

If you are considering filing a wage claim or lawsuit, you may want to speak to a local wage and hour attorney. The resources below can help you find a lawyer near you.

Memphis, TN Free or Low-Cost Legal Assistance

Legal aid offices provide free legal assistance to low-income people. Typically, you must qualify for legal aid based on your income. Visit to find local resources and legal aid offices.

Some law schools have free legal clinics that provide assistance with specific problems, including wage and hour issues and other employment matters. Find a list of law schools offering legal clinics on a variety of issues at the American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono.

Advertisement

Memphis, TN Lawyer Directories

Lawyer Referral Services in Tennessee. Check with the Tennessee State Bar Association for information on lawyer referral services in Memphis, TN. Lawyer referral services match people with attorneys who specialize in particular legal fields, such as wage and hour law.

NELA’s “Find-A-Lawyer” Service. Search the National Employment Lawyer’s Association’s membership to find Memphis, TN lawyers who specialize in wage and hour claims and other employment issues.


ADVERTISEMENT -

Free Overtime Case Evaluation For Memphis, TN

Do you have questions about whether you're getting the wages you're entitled to in Tennessee? Use the form below to connect with a lawyer through the Nolo / Martindale network of overtime lawyers.
SPONSORED FORM - Nolo/Martindale Attorney Network