Wage-and-hour ground rules for hotel and hospitality employers in New Hampshire — 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 New Hampshire minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, effective August 21, 2011. New Hampshire repealed its own dollar rate in 2011; RSA 279:21 simply adopts the federal minimum, currently $7.25. Lowest rate in New England — hotel market wages run far above the floor.
Preemption New Hampshire preempts local minimum wage ordinances — cities and counties cannot set their own general wage floors.
Tipped employees & tip pooling#
New Hampshire allows a tip credit: employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $3.27 and claim up to $3.98 per hour in tips toward the minimum wage. Tipped employees of restaurants, hotels, motels, inns or cabins who customarily and regularly receive more than $30/month in tips must be paid a base rate of at least 45% of the applicable minimum wage (45% x $7.25 = $3.27). Cash plus tips must reach $7.25. RSA 279:21 — the 45% formula is more protective than the federal $2.13. Tips belong to the employee (RSA 279:26-b); pooling only if voluntary or employer-administered without coercion.
Tip pooling#
RSA 279:26-b: tips are the employee's property; employees may voluntarily and without coercion agree to pool or share tips — employer-mandated redistribution is not permitted beyond facilitating a voluntary arrangement. (RSA 279:26-b)
See the federal baseline rules in our tip credit and tip pooling briefs — the stricter of federal or New Hampshire law controls.
Overtime#
Overtime is due after 40 hours in a workweek. State OT mirrors the FLSA 40-hour standard (RSA 279:21, VIII); no daily overtime.
Run the math — including the tipped-overtime trap — with the tipped overtime calculator.
Meal & rest breaks#
Meal breaks: 30-minute meal/rest period after 5 consecutive hours of work, unless it is feasible for the employee to eat while working and the employer permits it (then the time is paid). (RSA 275:30-a)
Rest breaks: Not required by New Hampshire law.
Scheduling & premium pay#
- Reporting-time pay: An employee who reports to work at the employer's request must be paid at least 2 hours at their regular rate (RSA 275:43-a).
- Split-shift premium: None.
- Spread of hours: None.
Service charges & gratuities#
New Hampshire 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: Weekly or biweekly (RSA 275:43); semimonthly/monthly only with NH DOL authorization.
- Wage statements: Written statement of deductions each payday; written notice of pay rate and payday at hire and before changes (RSA 275:49). (RSA 275:43; 275:49)
- Exempt salary floor: $684.00/week (federal)
- Lodging credit: Meals/lodging credits permitted with written employee authorization per NH DOL rules — relevant to seasonal inns and resort staff housing in the White Mountains/Lakes Region.
No municipality may set a local minimum wage (towns lack authority; treated as preempted). The 2-hour reporting-pay rule and the 45% tipped formula are the NH-specific items most often missed by multistate hotel operators.
Official sources#
- NH Department of Labor — wage & hour
- Paycor minimum wage by state tracker (NH repealed state minimum, adopts $7.25) (accessed 2026-06-12)
- Labor Law Center 2026 state minimum wage rates (accessed 2026-06-12)
- RSA 275:43-a — required pay (NH General Court) (accessed 2026-06-12)
- RSA 275:30-a — lunch or eating period (NH General Court) (accessed 2026-06-12)