Wage-and-hour ground rules for hotel and hospitality employers in Ohio — 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 Ohio minimum wage is $11.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. Ohio Const. art. II, §34a (2006 voter amendment) indexes the rate to inflation each Jan. 1 (2.8% for 2026). SMALL-EMPLOYER TIER: employers with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or less (2026 threshold, also indexed) pay the federal $7.25, as do 14-15 year olds. 2025 rates were $10.70/$5.35 with a $394,000 threshold.
Preemption Ohio preempts local minimum wage ordinances — cities and counties cannot set their own general wage floors.
Tipped employees & tip pooling#
Ohio allows a tip credit: employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $5.50 and claim up to $5.50 per hour in tips toward the minimum wage. Tipped employee = customarily receives more than $30/month in tips; employer must be able to show tips brought the employee to $11.00/hr. Tipped cash minimum is constitutionally fixed at half the full minimum wage (art. II, §34a), so it rises automatically with CPI — $5.50 for 2026.
Tip pooling#
No state-specific pooling statute; FLSA governs — valid pools among tipped employees, managers/supervisors excluded, BOH only when no tip credit is taken. (29 U.S.C. §203(m)(2)(B))
See the federal baseline rules in our tip credit and tip pooling briefs — the stricter of federal or Ohio law controls.
Overtime#
Overtime is due after 40 hours in a workweek. 1.5× over 40 for employers grossing $150,000+/yr (R.C. 4111.03). 2022 SB 47 adopted FLSA §7 exemptions and Portal-to-Portal defenses and restricted some class/collective hybrid actions.
Run the math — including the tipped-overtime trap — with the tipped overtime calculator.
Meal & rest breaks#
Meal breaks: Not required by Ohio law for adult employees. Federal law requires only that breaks under 20 minutes, if offered, be paid.
Rest breaks: Not required by Ohio law.
Scheduling & premium pay#
- Reporting-time pay: None required by state law.
- Split-shift premium: None.
- Spread of hours: None.
Service charges & gratuities#
Ohio 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: Semimonthly: wages earned in the first half of the month payable by the 1st of the following month, second half by the 15th (R.C. 4113.15).
- Wage statements: Pay Stub Protection Act (HB 106, effective April 2025): employers must provide a written or electronic pay statement each payday showing gross/net wages, hours (for hourly), rate, and deductions. (R.C. 4113.14 (2025 Pay Stub Protection Act))
- Exempt salary floor: $684.00/week (federal) — No state salary floor above federal $684/week.
- Lodging credit: Reasonable cost of board/lodging customarily furnished may be counted per FLSA §3(m) standards; Ohio follows federal practice.
Local minimum wages preempted by 2016 SB 331 (R.C. 4111.02, effective March 20, 2017), enacted to block Cleveland's proposed $15 local wage; SB 331 also gives employers exclusive authority over scheduling and fringe benefits, blocking local fair-workweek ordinances. The constitutional CPI escalator means hotel payroll must update every Jan. 1, and the small-employer gross-receipts test ($405,000 for 2026) rarely helps hotels.
Official sources#
- Ohio Dept. of Commerce — Bureau of Wage & Hour
- Ohio Dept. of Commerce — Ohio Minimum Wage Set to Increase in 2026 (accessed 2026-06-12)
- State of Ohio 2026 Minimum Wage poster (accessed 2026-06-12)
- Dickinson Wright — Ohio adopts preemption legislation (SB 331) (accessed 2026-06-12)