The 2026 MA Minimum Wage ($15.00/hr)
Unlike many states that follow the federal standard, Massachusetts maintains one of the highest minimum wages in the country. Following a multi-year legislative increase schedule (the "Grand Bargain"), the standard minimum wage in Massachusetts is locked at $15.00 per hour.
For service industry workers, the minimum cash wage for tipped employees (such as servers and bartenders) is $6.75 per hour. However, if your tips plus the $6.75 do not equal at least $15.00 per hour for every hour worked, the employer must make up the difference.
The End of Sunday Premium Pay (Blue Laws)
This is the most common payroll question in Massachusetts. For decades, the Massachusetts "Blue Laws" strictly required retail employers with more than seven employees to pay workers time-and-a-half (1.5x) for working on Sundays and certain holidays.
"As of January 1, 2023, the Sunday Premium Pay requirement has been completely eliminated in Massachusetts. If you work on a Sunday in 2026, you are only entitled to your standard regular pay rate."
This means your Sunday hours are now treated exactly like a Tuesday or Wednesday. They only count towards your weekly 40-hour overtime threshold. Use our calculator above to enter your Sunday hours—we'll do the math to show you exactly how they blend into your standard workweek without the old premium multiplier.
| Calculation Method | Does MA Require It? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Overtime | Yes | Paid 1.5x for hours over 40 in a single workweek. |
| Daily Overtime | No | Working over 8 hours a day does not trigger overtime. |
| Sunday Premium Pay | No | Eliminated as of 2023. Paid at regular rate. |
Mandatory Rest Breaks
While Massachusetts doesn't require daily overtime, it does protect your right to rest. Under state law, an employer must provide a 30-minute unpaid meal break if an employee works more than six hours in a calendar day. During this 30-minute break, the employee must be relieved of all duties and free to leave the workplace premises.