Effective January 1, 2017, the minimum wage will be $11.00

The minimum wage law applies to all employees except those being rehabilitated or trained in charitable, educational, or religious institutions; members of religious orders; agricultural, floricultural and horticultural workers; those in professional service; and outside salespersons not reporting to or visiting their office daily. For further information regarding the Massachusetts state minimum wage, contact the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards at (617) 626-6975 or visit.mas.gov/dols.

Wait staff, service employees and service bartenders will increase to $3.75 per hour if they regularly receive tips of more than $20 per month, and if their average hourly tips, when added to the service rate, are equal to or exceed the basic minimum wage per M.G.L. chapter 151, section 7.

Agricultural employees may be paid $8.00 per hour. M.G.L. chapter 151, section 2A. A higher rate may apply under Federal law. For more information, contact the U.S. Department of Labor at (617) 624-6700 or visit.

Payment of Wages

M.G.L chapter 149, section 148

Wages (payment for all hours worked, including tips, earned vacation pay, holiday pay, and definitely determined and due commissions) must be paid within the following time periods.

If employed for five or six days in a calendar week, within six days of the end of the pay period during which the wages were earned:

If employed seven days in a calendar week, within seven days of the end of the pay period during which wages were earned:

An employee who has worked for a period of less than five days (also known as casual employee), within seven days of the end of the period.