HoursPad

Overtime and break rules by state

All 50 states and DC in one table: what the U.S. Department of Labor's tables say about meal and rest periods, and a link to each state's labor department for overtime.

In this table: 21 states have a row in the Department of Labor's meal period table, 9 have a row in its rest period table, and 8 have their own HoursPad page with the overtime source quoted. Counts are made from the table below.

How to use it

  1. Find your state in the table.
  2. Open its HoursPad page if it has one, or follow its labor department link, to read the overtime source.
  3. Check the date on each quote. The U.S. Department of Labor tables are dated January 1, 2023.

State by state

Quotes are taken from each state's "Basic Standard" cell in the Department of Labor tables. Coverage notes and exceptions are in the full tables, linked under Official sources. The labor department links come from the Department of Labor's list of state labor offices.

State Overtime Meal period (DOL table) Rest period (DOL table)
Alabama See Alabama labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Alaska HoursPad Alaska page
See Alaska labor department 		No row in this table No row in this table
Arizona See Arizona labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Arkansas See Arkansas labor department No row in this table No row in this table
California HoursPad California page
See California labor department
“½ hour, if work is for more than 5 hours per day, except when workday will be completed in 6 hours or less and there is mutual employer/employee consent to waive meal period.”
“Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof; as practicable, in middle of each work period.”
Colorado HoursPad Colorado page
See Colorado labor department
“½ hour if work shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours.”
“Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours of work, or major fractions thereof.”
Connecticut See Connecticut labor department
“½ hour at some time after first 2 hours and before last 2 hours for employees who work 7½ consecutive hours or more.”
 No row in this table
Delaware See Delaware labor department
“½ hour, at some time, after first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours, for employees who work 7½ consecutive hours or more.”
 No row in this table
District of Columbia See District of Columbia labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Florida See DOL list of state labor offices No row in this table No row in this table
Georgia See Georgia labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Hawaii See Hawaii labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Idaho See Idaho labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Illinois See Illinois labor department
“At least 20 minutes, no later than 5 hours after the start of the work period, to employees who work 7 ½ continuous hours or more.”
“a minimum of two 15-minute paid rest break periods in each workday in which they work at least seven hours.”
Indiana See Indiana labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Iowa See Iowa labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Kansas See Kansas labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Kentucky See Kentucky labor department
“Reasonable off-duty period, ordinarily ½ hour but shorter period permitted under special conditions, between 3rd and 5th hour of work.”
“Paid 10-minute rest period during each 4-hour work period”
Louisiana See DOL list of state labor offices No row in this table No row in this table
Maine See Maine labor department
“30 minutes after 6 consecutive hours, except in cases of emergency.”
 No row in this table
Maryland See Maryland labor department
“15 minute break for 4-6 consecutive hours or a 30 minute break for more than 6 consecutive hours.”
 No row in this table
Massachusetts See Massachusetts labor department
“During their meal break, workers must be free of all duties and free to leave the workplace.”
 No row in this table
Michigan See Michigan labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Minnesota See Minnesota labor department
“Sufficient unpaid time for employees who work 8 consecutive hours or more.”
“Paid adequate rest period within each 4 consecutive hours of work, to utilize nearest convenient restroom.”
Mississippi See Mississippi labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Missouri See Missouri labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Montana See Montana labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Nebraska See Nebraska labor department
“½ hour, off premises, for lunch in each 8-hour shift.”
 No row in this table
Nevada HoursPad Nevada page
See Nevada labor department
“½ hour, if work is for 8 continuous hours.”
“Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof; as practicable, in middle of each work period.”
New Hampshire See New Hampshire labor department
“½ hour, after 5 consecutive hours, unless feasible for employee to eat while working and is permitted to do so by employer.”
 No row in this table
New Jersey See New Jersey labor department No row in this table No row in this table
New Mexico See New Mexico labor department No row in this table No row in this table
New York HoursPad New York page
See New York labor department
“30 minute noonday period for employees who work shifts of more than 6 hours that extend over the noon day meal period.”
 No row in this table
North Carolina See North Carolina labor department No row in this table No row in this table
North Dakota See North Dakota labor department
“½ hour, if desired, on each shift exceeding 5 hours.”
 No row in this table
Ohio See Ohio labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Oklahoma See Oklahoma labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Oregon HoursPad Oregon page
See Oregon labor department
“½ hour, with relief from all duty, for each work period of 6 to 8 hours”
“Paid 10-minute rest period for every 4-hours worked or major portion thereof in one work period; as feasible, approximately in middle of each segment of work period.”
Pennsylvania See Pennsylvania labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Rhode Island See Rhode Island labor department
“a 30 minute mealtime within an eight hour work shift.”
 No row in this table
South Carolina See South Carolina labor department No row in this table No row in this table
South Dakota See South Dakota labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Tennessee See Tennessee labor department
“½ hour for employees scheduled to work 6 consecutive hours or more.”
 No row in this table
Texas HoursPad Texas page
See Texas labor department 		No row in this table No row in this table
Utah See Utah labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Vermont See Vermont labor department
“Employees are to be given "reasonable opportunities" during work periods to eat and use toilet facilities in order to protect the health and hygiene of the employee.”
“Employees are to be given "reasonable opportunities" during work periods to eat and use toilet facilities in order to protect the health and hygiene of the employee.”
Virginia See Virginia labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Washington HoursPad Washington page
See Washington labor department
“½ hour, if work period is more than 5 consecutive hours, to be given not less than 2 hours nor more than 5 hours from beginning of shift.”
“Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4-hour work period, scheduled as near as possible to midpoint of each work period.”
West Virginia See West Virginia labor department
“20 minutes for employees who work 6 hours or more in a workday.”
 No row in this table
Wisconsin See Wisconsin labor department No row in this table No row in this table
Wyoming See Wyoming labor department No row in this table No row in this table

Questions

Why does the overtime column say "See" for most states?

HoursPad only states a rule when it has quoted an official source for it. Where it has not, the table links to the state's labor department (or, for a few states, to the U.S. Department of Labor's list of state labor offices), which can say what applies to a job.

Where do the meal and rest period quotes come from?

From two tables published by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. Both are dated January 1, 2023 on its site, so a state may have changed its rules since.

What does "no row" mean?

It means the state does not appear in that Department of Labor table. It is not a statement about what the state's law says.

Is this legal advice?

No. It repeats what official sources say and links to them. Your employer, your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor can confirm what applies to a job.

Official sources

  1. State Labor Offices (U.S. Department of Labor), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Below is a list of each state and their labor office contact information.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  2. California: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour, if work is for more than 5 hours per day, except when workday will be completed in 6 hours or less and there is mutual employer/employee consent to waive meal period.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  3. California: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof; as practicable, in middle of each work period.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  4. Colorado: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour if work shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  5. Colorado: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours of work, or major fractions thereof.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  6. Connecticut: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour at some time after first 2 hours and before last 2 hours for employees who work 7½ consecutive hours or more.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  7. Delaware: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour, at some time, after first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours, for employees who work 7½ consecutive hours or more.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  8. Illinois: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “At least 20 minutes, no later than 5 hours after the start of the work period, to employees who work 7 ½ continuous hours or more.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  9. Illinois: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “a minimum of two 15-minute paid rest break periods in each workday in which they work at least seven hours.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  10. Kentucky: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Reasonable off-duty period, ordinarily ½ hour but shorter period permitted under special conditions, between 3rd and 5th hour of work.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  11. Kentucky: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Paid 10-minute rest period during each 4-hour work period”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  12. Maine: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “30 minutes after 6 consecutive hours, except in cases of emergency.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  13. Maryland: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “15 minute break for 4-6 consecutive hours or a 30 minute break for more than 6 consecutive hours.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  14. Massachusetts: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “During their meal break, workers must be free of all duties and free to leave the workplace.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  15. Minnesota: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Sufficient unpaid time for employees who work 8 consecutive hours or more.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  16. Minnesota: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Paid adequate rest period within each 4 consecutive hours of work, to utilize nearest convenient restroom.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  17. Nebraska: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour, off premises, for lunch in each 8-hour shift.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  18. Nevada: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour, if work is for 8 continuous hours.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  19. New Hampshire: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour, after 5 consecutive hours, unless feasible for employee to eat while working and is permitted to do so by employer.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  20. New York: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “30 minute noonday period for employees who work shifts of more than 6 hours that extend over the noon day meal period.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  21. North Dakota: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour, if desired, on each shift exceeding 5 hours.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  22. Oregon: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour, with relief from all duty, for each work period of 6 to 8 hours”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  23. Oregon: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Paid 10-minute rest period for every 4-hours worked or major portion thereof in one work period; as feasible, approximately in middle of each segment of work period.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  24. Rhode Island: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “a 30 minute mealtime within an eight hour work shift.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  25. Tennessee: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour for employees scheduled to work 6 consecutive hours or more.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  26. Vermont: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Employees are to be given "reasonable opportunities" during work periods to eat and use toilet facilities in order to protect the health and hygiene of the employee.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  27. Vermont: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Employees are to be given "reasonable opportunities" during work periods to eat and use toilet facilities in order to protect the health and hygiene of the employee.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  28. Washington: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “½ hour, if work period is more than 5 consecutive hours, to be given not less than 2 hours nor more than 5 hours from beginning of shift.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  29. Washington: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4-hour work period, scheduled as near as possible to midpoint of each work period.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
  30. West Virginia: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
    “20 minutes for employees who work 6 hours or more in a workday.”
    Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.

These are summaries of what the official sources say, not legal advice. Laws change and exceptions apply. Check with your employer or your state labor department about your own job.