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- The Massachusetts minimum wage was $12.00 in 2019
- The 2019 service rate was $4.35
- Coverage depended on the job and employer
- Overtime was generally due after 40 hours
- Enforcement and records were consequential
- The current rate is different
- Common questions
- What was Massachusetts minimum wage in 2019?
- What was the tipped service rate?
- Was overtime required?
- Is $12.00 still the Massachusetts minimum wage?
- Sources
Key Facts
- Massachusetts state level—2019: The general minimum wage was $12.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2019.
- Massachusetts state level—2019: The service rate was $4.35 for qualifying tipped employees.
- Massachusetts state level—2019: Tips plus the service rate had to reach $12.00 at the end of each shift, or the employer owed the difference.
- Massachusetts state level—2019: Covered employees generally earned time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek, subject to statutory exemptions.
- Current context: The historical 2019 rates are not current; Massachusetts now uses a $15.00 general rate and $6.75 service rate.
Massachusetts raised its general minimum wage to $12.00 per hour on January 1, 2019. That historical rate matters when reviewing work performed in 2019, but it should not be used for current payroll.
The Massachusetts minimum wage was $12.00 in 2019
Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2018 began a five-step schedule on January 1, 2019. The first step raised the general minimum from $11.00 to $12.00 per hour.
The $12.00 rate applied for the entire 2019 calendar year to employees covered by the Massachusetts Minimum Fair Wage Law. The next scheduled increase, to $12.75, began January 1, 2020.
This page is a year-specific spoke; our wage law overview explains broader wage-floor concepts.
The 2019 service rate was $4.35
A qualifying service employee could be paid $4.35 per hour in direct wages in 2019. The employee generally had to receive more than $20 per month in tips, and the employer had to provide written notice of the service-rate arrangement.
The service rate was not a standalone minimum. Direct wages and tips had to total at least $12.00 per hour by the end of each shift, and the employer had to pay any shortfall.
That end-of-shift calculation became effective January 1, 2019. It prevents an employer from using strong tips on one shift to erase a deficit on another.
Coverage depended on the job and employer
Massachusetts law broadly protects employees, but statutes and approved waivers contain specific exceptions. Some agricultural work, qualifying students or trainees, and other narrowly defined arrangements may follow different rules.
Worker classification also matters. Calling someone an independent contractor does not decide the issue when the facts establish an employment relationship.
Overtime was generally due after 40 hours
Massachusetts General Laws chapter 151, section 1A generally required covered employees to receive one and one-half times their regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. The section listed occupational and industry exemptions, so not every employee qualified.
Overtime was calculated from the regular rate, not simply the $4.35 service rate. Federal overtime law could also apply, and the more protective applicable obligation controlled.
Enforcement and records were consequential
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division enforced minimum-wage and overtime requirements. Workers could submit a workplace complaint, and state law also provided a route to sue after satisfying applicable procedural requirements.
Available remedies could include unpaid wages, mandatory multiple damages, costs, and attorney’s fees. Retaliation for asserting protected wage rights was prohibited.
Useful historical evidence includes timecards, schedules, pay stubs, tip records, written service-rate notices, and records showing when each shift ended. The date the work was performed controls the applicable historical rate.
The current rate is different
The 2019 figures are no longer current. Massachusetts reached a $15.00 general minimum and a $6.75 service rate on January 1, 2023, and those amounts remain the general rates in 2026.
Later increases do not retroactively change wages due for 2019 work. A historical calculation should use the 2019 rate while applying current procedures and deadlines only after verifying the law governing the claim.
Common questions
What was Massachusetts minimum wage in 2019?
The general rate was $12.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2019.
What was the tipped service rate?
It was $4.35 per hour for qualifying service employees, with tips and direct wages required to reach $12.00 each shift.
Was overtime required?
Covered, nonexempt employees generally earned time-and-a-half after 40 hours, but section 1A contained exemptions.
Is $12.00 still the Massachusetts minimum wage?
No. The general rate is now $15.00 per hour.
