Under Louisiana overtime laws you earn no state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, and no daily overtime in Louisiana — only the weekly total counts. The minimum wage is No state minimum wage; the federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers.
This guide gives the exact louisiana overtime laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next. Rules verified against Louisiana Workforce Commission (no state wage-claim process; claims go to court) on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Louisiana Workforce Commission (no state wage-claim process; claims go to court) or an attorney before you rely on it.
Louisiana Overtime Laws at a Glance
| Minimum wage | No state minimum wage; the federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers |
| Weekly overtime | No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Louisiana — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | No |
In This Louisiana Overtime Laws Guide:
Louisiana Overtime Laws: The Rules
No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Louisiana — only the weekly total counts. The overtime rate is one and a half times your regular rate of pay — the regular rate includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift differentials, not just the base wage.
Louisiana has no state overtime law; the federal 40-hour rule applies.
How to Calculate Overtime Under Louisiana Overtime Laws
Take your total pay for the week, divide by the hours you worked to get the regular rate, and multiply the overtime hours by 1.5 times that rate. A worker paid No an hour who works 48 hours in a 40-hour state is owed 8 hours at time and a half.
Salary does not mean exempt: a salaried worker below the exemption tests still gets overtime on the hours over the threshold.
Louisiana Overtime Laws at a Glance
Rules verified against Louisiana Workforce Commission (no state wage-claim process; claims go to court) on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Louisiana Workforce Commission (no state wage-claim process; claims go to court) or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Minimum wage | No state minimum wage; the federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers |
| Weekly overtime | No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Daily overtime | No daily overtime in Louisiana — only the weekly total counts |
| Rate | 1.5 times the regular rate (double time only where the row says so) |
| State overtime statute | No |
Who Is Exempt From Louisiana Overtime Laws
Louisiana uses the federal FLSA exemptions. The main exempt jobs are salaried executives, administrative employees, learned and creative professionals, certain computer employees, and outside salespeople. Most of these roles must pass both a duties test and the federal salary-basis and salary-level test. A job title alone does not make anyone exempt.
Daily Overtime and Louisiana Overtime Laws
Louisiana has no daily overtime rule: a 12-hour day in a 36-hour week earns no premium, because only the weekly total counts. Louisiana sets no rule of its own, so federal law applies, and it generally does not let private employers give comp time instead of overtime pay. Comp time in place of overtime is generally limited to public-sector employers.
Is Overtime Taxed Differently Under Louisiana Overtime Laws?
No — overtime is ordinary wages and is taxed at the same income-tax rates as the rest of your pay; it can push more of your pay into a higher withholding bracket on one check, but the annual tax rate does not change. Louisiana has no state minimum wage or tip credit rule, so the federal FLSA tip credit applies.
When a tipped worker works overtime, the employer generally has to figure the overtime premium from the full federal minimum wage, not the lower cash wage paid to tipped workers.
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How to Claim Unpaid Overtime Under Louisiana Overtime Laws
Louisiana has no state overtime law, and the Louisiana Workforce Commission does not take private-sector overtime complaints. Most workers file a free complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, by phone or at a local office, or bring a private lawsuit under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
Federal law limits how far back unpaid overtime can be recovered, and the window is longer for willful violations, so confirm the exact period with the Wage and Hour Division.
Other Louisiana Overtime Laws Rules to Know
Louisiana has no state overtime statute, and overtime runs entirely through the federal FLSA. Unpaid final wages are a separate matter covered by the Louisiana Wage Payment Act (La. R.S. 23:631 et seq.), which can add penalty wages and attorney fees. That claim generally goes to court, not to an agency.
Think you are owed overtime? The wage-claim agency takes the complaint for free.
Contact Louisiana Workforce Commission (no state wage-claim process; claims go to court)
Louisiana — the bottom line
- Louisiana overtime laws start the premium no state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate — count the week, not the day.
- Under louisiana overtime laws the rate is 1.5 times the regular rate, and the regular rate includes your bonuses and differentials.
- Louisiana overtime laws are enforced by a free wage claim — you do not need a lawyer to recover unpaid overtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I get overtime under Louisiana overtime laws?
No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Louisiana — only the weekly total counts.
What is the overtime rate in Louisiana?
One and a half times your regular rate of pay, which includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift pay.
Does Louisiana have daily overtime?
No daily overtime in louisiana — only the weekly total counts.
Can my employer give comp time instead of overtime pay in Louisiana?
Louisiana sets no rule of its own, so federal law applies, and it generally does not let private employers give comp time instead of overtime pay.
How do I claim unpaid overtime in Louisiana?
Louisiana has no state overtime law, and the Louisiana Workforce Commission does not take private-sector overtime complaints. Most workers file a free complaint with the U.S.
Official Louisiana Sources & Resources
- Louisiana Workforce Commission (no state wage-claim process; claims go to court): https://www.laworks.net/
- Louisiana statute: Louisiana has no state overtime law; the federal 40-hour rule applies.
- Verified source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov
This louisiana overtime laws guide was last verified against official Louisiana sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Louisiana Workplace Rights Guides
- Louisiana Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
- Louisiana Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
- Louisiana Labor Laws: Every Rule in One Place
- Louisiana Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.