New Hampshire labor laws in one place: the minimum wage is $7.25, after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, 30 minutes after 5 consecutive hours, unless it is feasible to eat while working and the employer permits it, no paid sick leave is required, and the final paycheck is due within 72 hours of the discharge if you are fired.
This guide gives the exact new hampshire labor laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next. Rules verified against the statute on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with New Hampshire Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division or an attorney before you rely on it.
New Hampshire Labor Laws at a Glance
| Minimum wage | $7.25 |
| Overtime | After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Meal break | 30 minutes after 5 consecutive hours, unless it is feasible to eat while working and the employer permits it |
| Paid sick leave | No state mandate |
| Final paycheck if fired | Within 72 hours of the discharge |
| PTO paid out | Only if the employer’s policy provides it |
| Non compete | Restricted by statute |
| Right to work | No |
| At-will | Yes |
In This New Hampshire Labor Laws Guide:
- Labor Laws: Minimum Wage and Overtime
- Labor Laws: Breaks and Lunch
- Labor Laws: Hours Worked, 12-Hour…
- Labor Laws for 16 and 17 Year Olds
- Labor Laws: Sick Leave and PTO
- Labor Laws: Final Paycheck
- Labor Laws: Non Compete, Right to Work…
- Labor Laws: Required Posters
- Other Labor Laws to Know
- FAQ
- Official Sources
New Hampshire Labor Laws: Minimum Wage and Overtime
The minimum wage is $7.25. After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in New Hampshire — only the weekly total counts.
New Hampshire Labor Laws: Breaks and Lunch
30 minutes after 5 consecutive hours, unless it is feasible to eat while working and the employer permits it. No New Hampshire law requires paid rest breaks; under the federal FLSA any short break of 5 to 20 minutes an employer does give must be paid.
New Hampshire Labor Laws at a Glance
Rules verified against the statute on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with New Hampshire Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.
| Minimum wage | $7.25 |
| Overtime | After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate |
| Meal break | 30 minutes after 5 consecutive hours, unless it is feasible to eat while working and the employer permits it |
| Paid sick leave | No state mandate |
| Final paycheck if fired | Within 72 hours of the discharge |
| PTO paid out | Only if the employer’s policy provides it |
| Non compete | Restricted by statute |
| Right to work | No |
| At-will | Yes |
New Hampshire Labor Laws: Hours Worked, 12-Hour Shifts and Days of Rest
New Hampshire has no general limit on 12-hour shifts or mandatory overtime for most workers, as long as required overtime pay is paid. Nurses and licensed nursing assistants are the exception: they generally cannot be disciplined for refusing to work beyond 12 consecutive hours.
If they are required to stay longer, they get a protected rest period afterward, though surgery, critical care, home health, emergencies and some union contracts are excepted. New Hampshire generally requires an employee who works on Sunday to get a full day without work within the following week.
Employers open on Sunday must post a schedule that names each employee’s day of rest, and no employee can be required to work on that day. Hospitals, nursing homes, utilities, food delivery and some other workplaces are exempt, and the Labor Commissioner can approve a waiver, which the worker may revoke.
New Hampshire Labor Laws for 16 and 17 Year Olds
The state generally requires 16- and 17-year-olds who are enrolled in school to stay under a weekly hours cap during school weeks, with a higher cap during school vacations and summer, and a limit on consecutive workdays all year.
They need written permission from a parent or guardian on file with the employer before the first day of work, and they may not do hazardous work unless they are in a training or apprenticeship program the state has approved.
New Hampshire Labor Laws: Sick Leave and PTO
No New Hampshire law requires paid sick leave; the employer’s own policy or a union contract controls, and the federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave at employers of 50 or more. Vacation payout follows the written policy (275:43 treats it as wages when the policy promises it).
New Hampshire Labor Laws: Final Paycheck
Within 72 hours of the discharge if the employer ends the job; next regular payday; within 72 hours if the worker gave at least one pay period’s notice if you quit. Penalty: liquidated damages for a willful failure without good cause under 275:44 IV, plus the Department of Labor’s civil penalties; the Department takes wage claims directly.
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New Hampshire Labor Laws: Non Compete, Right to Work and At-Will
New Hampshire voids any non compete with a low-wage employee — one earning an hourly rate at or below 200% of the federal minimum wage ($14.50 an hour) — and makes any non compete unenforceable if the employer did not hand the worker a copy before the job offer was accepted; everyone else is judged under the common-law reasonableness test.
No — New Hampshire is not a right-to-work state: a union contract with a union-security clause may require you to pay dues or an agency fee as a condition of employment (federal law already bars forcing you to formally join). New Hampshire is an at-will state: either side may end the job at any time for any lawful reason.
New Hampshire Labor Laws: Required Posters
New Hampshire requires employers to post state notices in a conspicuous, accessible spot at every workplace. These include minimum wage, protective legislation, employment discrimination, equal pay, whistleblowers’ protection, right-to-know (toxic substances) and unemployment notices, and you can confirm the current list on the Department of Labor’s mandatory posters page. Federal posters, such as the OSHA and FMLA notices, are required separately.
Other New Hampshire Labor Laws to Know
New Hampshire generally requires employers to give a 30-minute meal break after 5 consecutive hours of work, unless it is feasible for the employee to eat while working and the employer allows it. If you believe a break, rest-day or overtime rule was not followed, you may file a wage or labor complaint with the New Hampshire Department of Labor.
Every rule on this page has its own guide — and the wage-claim agency enforces most of them for free.
Contact New Hampshire Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
New Hampshire — the bottom line
- New hampshire labor laws start with the minimum wage ($7.25) and overtime after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate.
- Under new hampshire labor laws the final paycheck, breaks and sick leave each have a rule with a date — the links on this page go to each one.
- New hampshire labor laws are enforced mostly by a free wage claim; the attorney question arises only for wrongful termination and non competes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage under New Hampshire labor laws?
$7.25.
When is overtime owed under New Hampshire labor laws?
After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in New Hampshire — only the weekly total counts.
Are breaks required under New Hampshire labor laws?
30 minutes after 5 consecutive hours, unless it is feasible to eat while working and the employer permits it.
Is paid sick leave required under New Hampshire labor laws?
No state mandate.
When is my final paycheck due under New Hampshire labor laws?
Within 72 hours of the discharge.
Official New Hampshire Sources & Resources
- New Hampshire Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: https://www.nh.gov/labor/inspection/wage-hour.htm
- New Hampshire statute (N.H. Rev. Stat. 275:44): https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXIII/276-A/276-A-4.htm
- Verified source: https://www.gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXIII/275/275-44.htm
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov
This new hampshire labor laws guide was last verified against official New Hampshire sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More New Hampshire Workplace Rights Guides
- New Hampshire Overtime Laws: Threshold, Rate and Exemptions
- New Hampshire Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
- New Hampshire Sick Leave Law: Accrual and Caps
- New Hampshire Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
- New Hampshire PTO Laws: Is Unused Vacation Paid Out?
- New Hampshire Non Compete Law: Is Yours Enforceable?
- New Hampshire At Will Employment Law: The Exceptions
- New Hampshire Right to Work: What It Means for You
- New Hampshire 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.