Louisiana Overtime Laws 2026: Pay Calculator & FLSA Guide

Louisiana Overtime Pay Rules in 2026

Louisiana is one of only five U.S. states with no state minimum wage law and no state overtime statute. Every private-sector worker in Louisiana depends entirely on the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for overtime protection. This makes Louisiana's overtime rules simple — but also means there are no state-level enhancements.

Louisiana Has No State Minimum Wage

Louisiana is one of five states (alongside Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee) with no state minimum wage statute. The state defaults entirely to the federal minimum wage:

| Worker Type | Wage (2026) |

|---|---|

| Non-tipped employees | $7.25/hour (federal) |

| Tipped employees | $2.13/hour + tips (federal) |

| Youth minimum wage (first 90 days) | $4.25/hour (federal) |

This makes Louisiana's minimum overtime rate just $10.88/hour ($7.25 × 1.5) — the lowest possible in the United States. However, overtime is always calculated on your actual regular rate, so most Louisiana workers earn significantly more.

How Louisiana Overtime Works

With no state overtime law, Louisiana follows federal FLSA exactly:

• 1.5× regular rate for all hours over 40 in a workweek
• No daily overtime threshold
• No double-time requirement
• No 7th-day premium
• No holiday or Sunday premium

Example — A New Orleans restaurant cook earning $17/hour works 50 hours:

• Regular: 40 × $17 = $680
• Overtime: 10 × $25.50 = $255
• Total: $935

Check your pay with our Louisiana Overtime Pay Calculator.

Louisiana Oil and Gas Industry Notes

Louisiana's dominant energy sector has some unique overtime considerations:

• Offshore workers on platforms in federal waters are covered by FLSA but may have complex work period calculations
• Roustabouts and roughnecks are often misclassified as independent contractors — if you receive a 1099 and work set hours under company direction, you may be entitled to overtime
• Transportation workers in interstate oil and gas logistics may be exempt under the Motor Carrier Act
• Seamen on vessels are exempt from FLSA overtime under the Seamen's exemption

Louisiana Overtime Exemptions

Louisiana follows federal FLSA exemptions with no state additions:

• Executive, administrative, professional (EAP) — $684+/week AND duties test
• Outside salespeople
• Computer professionals — $27.63+/hour
• Highly compensated employees — $107,432+/year
• Agricultural workers, seamen, certain motor carrier employees

Louisiana Wage Claim Process

Louisiana has limited state-level wage enforcement for private employers:

• . Federal DOL Wage and Hour Division — primary enforcer for FLSA violations in Louisiana
• . Private lawsuit — file in federal or state court; recover back wages, liquidated damages, and attorney fees
• . Louisiana Workforce Commission — handles unemployment and some wage disputes but not overtime specifically
• . Louisiana Civil Service — handles state government employee wage issues only

Industries with Common Louisiana Overtime Violations

The federal DOL regularly recovers unpaid overtime in Louisiana for:

• Offshore and maritime — misclassification of deckhands and roustabouts as independent contractors
• New Orleans hospitality — unpaid pre-shift and post-shift prep time
• Baton Rouge and Lake Charles petrochemical — mandatory safety meetings off-the-clock
• Healthcare — automatic meal deductions when nurses worked through breaks
• Construction — misclassification of laborers as 1099 contractors

Louisiana vs. Neighboring States

| State | Daily Overtime | Minimum Wage (2026) | State OT Law |

|---|---|---|---|

| Louisiana | No | $7.25 (federal) | No (FLSA only) |

| Texas | No | $7.25 | No (FLSA only) |

| Arkansas | No | $11.00 | No (FLSA only) |

| Mississippi | No | $7.25 | No (FLSA only) |

| Alabama | No | $7.25 | No (FLSA only) |

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Louisiana have its own overtime law?

No. Louisiana has no state overtime statute. All overtime rights come from the federal FLSA.

Does Louisiana require overtime pay after 8 hours?

No. Louisiana has no daily overtime law. You only earn 1.5× after 40 hours in a workweek.

Can my Louisiana employer make me work overtime?

Yes. Louisiana has no law limiting mandatory overtime for adult workers in private industry. The only requirement is that you be paid 1.5× for hours over 40.

How do I report wage theft in Louisiana?

File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243 or online at dol.gov/agencies/whd. Louisiana has no dedicated state labor board for private-sector wage enforcement.

Are oilfield workers in Louisiana entitled to overtime?

It depends on classification. Many oilfield workers are wrongly classified as independent contractors. If you work set hours, use company equipment, and follow company direction, you are likely an employee entitled to FLSA overtime regardless of your 1099 status.