Wage-and-hour ground rules for hotel and hospitality employers in Utah — 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 Utah minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Utah Minimum Wage Act sets the state rate by Labor Commission rule at the federal level (Utah Code §34-40-103; Admin. R610-1), so $7.25; no scheduled increases.
Preemption Utah preempts local minimum wage ordinances — cities and counties cannot set their own general wage floors.
Tipped employees & tip pooling#
Utah 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. Tipped employee = more than $30/month in tips; cash wage plus tips must equal $7.25. State rule mirrors the federal $2.13 cash wage (Utah Admin. R610-1); FLSA notice and duties rules govern in practice.
Tip pooling#
No state pooling statute; FLSA governs — valid pools among tipped staff, 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 Utah law controls.
Overtime#
Overtime is due after 40 hours in a workweek. No state overtime law for private employers; FLSA 1.5× over 40 applies.
Run the math — including the tipped-overtime trap — with the tipped overtime calculator.
Meal & rest breaks#
Meal breaks: Not required by Utah law for adult employees. Federal law requires only that breaks under 20 minutes, if offered, be paid.
Rest breaks: Not required by Utah law.
Scheduling & premium pay#
- Reporting-time pay: None required by state law.
- Split-shift premium: None.
- Spread of hours: None.
Service charges & gratuities#
Utah 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 SEMIMONTHLY on designated paydays; employees on annual salary may be paid monthly (Utah Code §34-28-3).
- Wage statements: Pay statement showing total deductions required each payday (electronic permitted). (Utah Code §34-28-3)
- Exempt salary floor: $684.00/week (federal) — Federal $684/week applies.
- Lodging credit: Board/lodging credit permitted per Labor Commission rule consistent with FLSA §3(m) — a live issue for Park City and other ski-resort employee housing; document fair value and voluntary acceptance.
Utah Code §34-40-106 expressly prohibits local governments from establishing a private-sector minimum wage, so resort towns (Park City, Moab, Springdale) cannot adopt local rates despite high housing costs. Minors: meal (30 min) and rest (10 min) breaks are required for employees under 18 only.
Official sources#
- Utah Labor Commission — Antidiscrimination & Labor Division (Wage Claims)
- Utah Labor Commission (UALD wage & hour) (accessed 2026-06-12)
- Horton Group — State minimum wage rates 2026 (cross-check) (accessed 2026-06-12)