Every Dollar You Earn Is Yours. No Exceptions.
If your paycheck came up short, even by a little, that's still your money. It doesn't matter how big or small your employer is. The law is on your side.
WORKERS REPRESENTED NATIONWIDE
IN WAGES RECOVERED
CONSULTATION FEE
What Is A Minimum Wage Violation?
Did your paycheck come up short? If your employer paid you less than minimum wage, even by a dollar, that money is still yours. It does not matter if it was a mistake or on purpose. It does not matter if your employer is a small local shop or a massive national chain. The law treats wage theft the same either way, and you have every right to get your money back.
Minimum wage is the lowest amount an employer can legally pay you for an hour of work. It exists to protect workers, especially workers who are just starting out, working part time, or supporting a family on an hourly paycheck. If you are young, new to the workforce, or working a lower-wage job, you are exactly who this law was built to protect.
Any amount stolen is still stolen.
Whether your employer shorted you by fifty cents an hour or five dollars an hour, it is still wage theft, and it is still against the law. Some employers count on workers assuming small amounts aren't worth fighting for. They're wrong, and you don't have to accept that.
Federal, State & Local Minimum Wage
Minimum wage is the least amount an employer can legally pay you for an hour of work. There are three levels, federal, state, and local, and employers must always pay whichever rate is highest where you work.
Federal Minimum Wage
This is the rate set for the entire country by the Federal Labor Standards Act. It is currently $7.25 per hour nationwide. This is the floor, not the ceiling. This is the lowest legally allowed rate for any worker within the United States.
State Minimum Wage
States can set their own, higher minimum wage. They can never set one lower than the federal rate.
Local Minimum Wage
Some cities and counties require a rate even higher than their state's and the federal level. Employers must pay whichever rate is highest.
How Does This Look In the Real World?
Let's use California as an example. California's state minimum wage is $16.90 per hour as of 2026, more than double the federal rate. San Francisco sets its own local rate on top of that, adjusted every year, and it runs even higher than the state minimum.
If you were to work in San Francisco, your employer must pay the local rate, no exceptions. This means that even though someone else in California working the same job as you might be making $16.90 an hour, the law requires your job to pay you $19.61 an hour, at least! Rates like these change often, so if you're unsure what applies to your job, that's worth checking rather than assuming.
Who Is Exempt From Minimum Wage Law?
A small number of workers are exempt from minimum wage law. If you don't clearly fall into one of these groups, you are almost certainly entitled to at least the minimum wage.
Outside Salespeople
Registered Apprentices
Unpaid Interns & Volunteers
Close Family of the Employer
Some Nonprofit Workers with Disabilities
Tipped Workers
While they are not exempt from minimum wage laws, employers can pay employees who make tips a lower direct wage if tips make up the rest. HOWEVER, and this is very important to remember, if your wages and tips together don't add up to the full minimum wage, your employer must pay you the difference. Tips are never a loophole around minimum wage.
What To Do If You Think You Have Been Underpaid
It doesn't matter whether your employer meant to underpay you. If you weren't paid at least minimum wage, you may be entitled to take action, and speaking up is not overreacting. It's protecting your rights and holding your employer accountable to the same rules every business has to follow.
Related Wage & Hour Claims
We handle a wide range of wage and hour disputes, beyond expense reimbursement, including:
Arbitration Agreements
Meal & Rest Break Violations
Time Shaving
Unpaid Training
Minimum Wage Violations
Employee Misclassification
Unpaid Commissions
Untimely Wage Payments
Employer Tip-Theft
Off-the-Clock Work
Unpaid Overtime
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no cost. We offer free and confidential case reviews to help you understand your options. We do not charge any upfront legal fees. We only receive attorney fees if we win a financial recovery for you.
Getting started is straightforward. You can fill out our secure online form or call our office directly. A case manager will review your job details, look for qualifying wage violations, and let you know whether you may have a claim. This initial review is free and takes only a few minutes.
Federal and state laws prohibit employers from punishing or terminating workers for reporting wage violations or participating in a legal claim. This type of unfair treatment is called retaliation, and it is illegal. If your employer takes adverse action against you, our firm can advise you on your rights.
No. Your initial consultation with our firm is private and confidential. We will not contact your employer or notify them that you spoke with us. You can check your eligibility and learn about your rights without your employer's knowledge.
How Our Wage Recovery Process Works
Start your free, no-risk case review in about 10 minutes.
Submit Your Secure Form
Tell us about your missing pay through our confidential online form. We will review your details and follow up within 24 hours. Need answers right away? Call (888) 992-2990.
Get Your Free Consultation
A case manager will spend about 10 minutes reviewing your situation, looking for qualifying violations like unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, or regular rate errors. Clear advice, no obligation.
We Build Your Case
If you have a valid claim, we get to work right away. Our team handles the paperwork, gathers the evidence, and builds a legal strategy suited to your situation.
We Recover Your Wages
Once we have the facts, our legal team pursues the full amount you are owed. You receive updates throughout the process and pay nothing out of pocket. Attorney fees are collected only if we win.
We offer free, confidential consultations and only get paid if we recover money for you. No amount is too small to ask about.