Wage-and-hour ground rules for hotel and hospitality employers in Kansas — minimum wage, tipped-employee rules, overtime, breaks, premium pay, and the hotel-specific obligations that apply on top. Figures below were last reviewed on June 12, 2026; most rates adjust annually.
Verified as of June 12, 2026 — every figure on this page was checked against the official sources listed at the bottom on that date. How we verify →
Minimum wage#
The Kansas minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, effective January 1, 2010. State minimum wage (K.S.A. 44-1203) matches the federal $7.25 and has not changed since 2010. The state wage law applies only to employers NOT covered by the FLSA; virtually all hotels are FLSA enterprises, so the federal rate governs in practice.
Preemption Kansas preempts local minimum wage ordinances — cities and counties cannot set their own general wage floors.
Tipped employees & tip pooling#
Kansas allows a tip credit: employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.13 and claim up to $5.12 per hour in tips toward the minimum wage. Employee must customarily receive more than $20 per month in tips (state law); FLSA-covered hotels follow the federal $30/month standard. Cash wage plus tips must equal at least $7.25. State tipped cash wage mirrors the federal $2.13 (K.S.A. 44-1203(c)).
Tip pooling#
No Kansas-specific tip pooling statute; federal FLSA rules apply — employers, managers, and supervisors may not keep employee tips; mandatory pools limited to tipped employees when a tip credit is taken, or may include back-of-house if full minimum wage is paid. (29 U.S.C. 203(m); 29 C.F.R. pt. 531)
See the federal baseline rules in our tip credit and tip pooling briefs — the stricter of federal or Kansas law controls.
Overtime#
Overtime is due after 40 hours in a workweek. FLSA 40-hour standard for covered hotels. Kansas's own overtime law uses a 46-hour weekly threshold (K.S.A. 44-1204) but applies only to employers not covered by the FLSA.
Run the math — including the tipped-overtime trap — with the tipped overtime calculator.
Meal & rest breaks#
Meal breaks: Not required by Kansas law for adult employees. Federal law requires only that breaks under 20 minutes, if offered, be paid.
Rest breaks: Not required by Kansas law.
Scheduling & premium pay#
- Reporting-time pay: None required by state law.
- Split-shift premium: None.
- Spread of hours: None.
Service charges & gratuities#
Kansas has no service-charge-specific statute — the federal tip/service-charge line (and IRS treatment) controls. Background: service charges, auto-gratuities & resort fees.
Pay administration#
- Pay frequency: At least once a month on regular paydays designated in advance (K.S.A. 44-314).
- Wage statements: Itemized statement of deductions must be furnished each pay period on employee request (K.S.A. 44-320); no detailed WTPA-style mandate. (K.S.A. 44-320)
- Exempt salary floor: $684.00/week (federal) — Federal $684/week applies (2019 rule level; the 2024 DOL increase was vacated in Nov. 2024). Kansas sets no higher state salary floor.
- Lodging credit: Board, lodging, and other facilities may be credited toward minimum wage at fair value under state rules and FLSA section 3(m) reasonable-cost standards.
K.S.A. 12-16,130 expressly preempts local minimum wage and benefits ordinances, so no city/county wage rates apply. Compliance for Kansas hotels is effectively a pure FLSA exercise.
Official sources#
- Kansas Department of Labor
- Paycor minimum wage by state tracker (2026) (accessed 2026-06-12)
- Labor Law Center 2026 state minimum wage rates (accessed 2026-06-12)