The Department’s regulations require executive, administrative, and professional (EAP) employees to be paid at least a minimum salary amount to be exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s minimum wage and overtime requirements under section 13(a)(1). In April 2024, the Department issued a final rule increasing the standard salary level for exemption, and the total annual compensation requirement for highly compensated employees, as detailed below.
| Earnings Threshold | Current Amount | Minimum Salary Amount Beginning July 1, 2024 | Minimum Salary Amount Beginning January 1, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Salary Level | $684 per week (equivalent to a $35,568 annual salary) | $844 per week (equivalent to a $43,888 annual salary) | $1,128 per week (equivalent to a $58,656 annual salary) |
| Total Annual Compensation Requirement for Highly Compensated Employees (HCEs) | $107,432 per year, including at least $684 per week paid on a salary or fee basis | $132,964 per year, including at least $844 per week paid on a salary or fee basis | $151,164 per year, including at least $1,128 per week paid on a salary or fee basis |
| Special Salary Level for Employees in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | $455 per week (equivalent to a $23,660 annual salary) | $455 per week (equivalent to a $23,660 annual salary) | $455 per week (equivalent to a $23,660 annual salary) |
| Special Salary Level for Employees in American Samoa | $380 per week (equivalent to a $19,760 annual salary) | $380 per week (equivalent to a $19,760 annual salary) | $380 per week (equivalent to a $19,760 annual salary) |
| Special Base Rate for Employees in the Motion Picture Industry | $1,043 per week (or a proportionate amount based on the number of days worked) | $1,043 per week (or a proportionate amount based on the number of days worked) | $1,043 per week (or a proportionate amount based on the number of days worked) |
| Compensation Required for Computer Employees Paid on an Hourly Basis | $27.63 per hour | $27.63 per hour | $27.63 per hour |
Note: These earnings thresholds do not apply to certain types of employees, including doctors, lawyers, teachers, and outside sales employees.