The federal minimum salary for exempt employees is a crucial component of labor regulations in the United States. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets forth the minimum wage and overtime pay regulations for non-exempt employees, and also defines the criteria for exempt employees who are not subject to these regulations. As of 2023, the federal minimum salary for exempt employees is $684 per week or $35,568 per year. This threshold is set to increase to $73,068 per year on January 1, 2025.
The increase in the federal minimum salary for exempt employees is significant because it will impact the eligibility of many workers for overtime pay. Under the FLSA, non-exempt employees must be paid time and a half for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Exempt employees, on the other hand, are not eligible for overtime pay. The increase in the minimum salary threshold will mean that more workers will be classified as non-exempt and therefore eligible for overtime pay.
