Reference · Pay and classification
State salary thresholds above the federal test
Where paying the federal $684 a week still leaves a salaried employee owed overtime.
Guidance, not legal advice. Every value links to the state source it came from. Cities and counties can set higher rates, and agencies change rules. Check the linked source before you act, or ask us in writing.
The federal minimum salary for the executive, administrative and professional exemptions is $684 a week ($35,568 a year). 6 jurisdictions set a higher floor. Below that floor a salaried employee is owed overtime, whatever the job title or duties.
| State | Current floor | 2027 | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $1,120.00/wk $58,240 a year | $1,200.00/wk | Exempt (executive/administrative/professional) employees must be paid at least 2x the state minimum wage for a 40-hour week: $1,120/week ($58,240/yr) from July 1, 2026; $1,200/week ($62,400/yr) from July 1, 2027 (not Jan 1). | Source |
| California | $1,352.00/wk $70,304 a year | $1,392.00/wk | 2x state minimum wage for full-time work. Duties tests still apply. | Source |
| Colorado | $1,111.23/wk $57,784 a year | Not yet announced | COMPS Order salary threshold, updated each Jan 1 by CPI. 2027 figure not yet confirmed (usually published in the December PAY CALC Order). | Source |
| Maine | $871.16/wk $45,300 a year | $905.79/wk | State threshold above federal; duties test also applies. | Source |
| New York | $1,275.00/wk $66,300 a year | Not yet announced | Executive/administrative exemption only. Figures are for NYC, Long Island and Westchester, with the rest of the state listed separately, effective 1/1/2026. The professional exemption follows federal. | Source |
| Washington | $1,541.70/wk $80,168 a year | $1,773.00/wk (51+ employees) $1,595.70/wk (1 to 50 employees) | 2026: 2.25x minimum wage for all employers. 2027: 2.5x for 51+ employees, 2.25x for 50 or fewer. Hourly exempt computer professionals: $62.06/hr in 2027. | Source |
Every other state follows the federal $684/week test. Salary is only half the test: the job duties must qualify too. Check a role with the exempt status checker.
Questions
What is the exempt salary threshold for 2027?
Federally it stays $684 a week. 6 states set a higher floor, and several raise it on January 1, 2027, including Washington, California and Maine.
Does a higher state threshold override the federal one?
Yes. When state law is more protective, the employer must meet it. An employee paid between the federal and state floor is nonexempt under state law.