{"id":11272,"date":"2025-07-30T08:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T13:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=11272"},"modified":"2026-02-18T11:34:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:34:36","slug":"definition-of-wages-by-state","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/wage-hour\/definition-of-wages-by-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Definition of Wages by State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b5fc8583 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7fc3d43a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8e1436f2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"\">by <strong>Vicki M. Lambert, <\/strong>The Payroll Advisor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Understanding how each state defines \u201cwages\u201d is essential for HR and payroll teams aiming to maintain accurate, compliant pay practices across multiple jurisdictions.<\/strong> Because the federal Fair Labor Standards Act does <em>not<\/em> provide a specific definition of wages, employers must rely on state wage payment laws\u2014which vary widely and often include detailed rules about what counts as wages, how certain payments are treated, and which earnings must be included in wage calculations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Our <strong>Fifty state chart for wage definitions<\/strong> gives HR professionals a clear, consolidated view of these legal definitions across all 50 states. It outlines how states classify wages, notes when guidance comes from labor agencies rather than statutes, and highlights related considerations such as commissions, bonuses, vacation payouts, and pay\u2011deduction rules when they appear within state definitions. This makes it easier for HR teams to ensure every employee is paid correctly\u2014and in full compliance with state\u2011specific requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Equip your organization with a reliable, state\u2011by\u2011state reference designed to strengthen payroll accuracy, reduce compliance risk, and support consistent wage practices nationwide.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;min-height:unset;\" class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1270\" height=\"730\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-11654 size-full\" alt=\"Screenshot of the Brightmine Fifty State Chart of definition of wages\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/26084930\/definition-of-wages-brightmine-fifty-state-chart.webp\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/26084930\/definition-of-wages-brightmine-fifty-state-chart.webp 1270w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/26084930\/definition-of-wages-brightmine-fifty-state-chart-300x172.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/26084930\/definition-of-wages-brightmine-fifty-state-chart-1024x589.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/26084930\/definition-of-wages-brightmine-fifty-state-chart-768x441.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/26084930\/definition-of-wages-brightmine-fifty-state-chart-450x259.webp 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1270px) 100vw, 1270px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#FFF\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-cover-is-layout-70f4fdbb wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-80fb368b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--natural)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to see more?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">For full access to <strong>Definition of wages by state<\/strong>, sign up to a HR and Compliance Center subscription today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/quote\/?intcmp=hrcc-migrated-resource|quote|request-a-quote\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-1 is-position-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-secondary-gray-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0b691c38 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:1rem;padding-top:15px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Latest updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Updated to reflect an amendment to Nevada law regarding temporarily laid off employees, effective July 1, 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a36fa716 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get ahead of HR compliance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Navigating today\u2019s complex HR compliance landscape is challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Get ahead with Brightmine. Access HR resources and automation tools managed by seasoned human HR experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\" class=\"\"><a href=\"\/us\/products\/hr-compliance-center\/#lexisnexis\">Proudly partnered with LexisNexis<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ecba6b92 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"166\" height=\"44\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/16090337\/LexisNexis-logo.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9646\" style=\"width:auto;height:35px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/quote\/?intcmp=cta|blog|quote|request-a-quote\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-efae2095 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You may also be interested in&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"resources-search-filter\" class=\"wp-elements-43f249effad81fb61a7e7e0972719a9c wp-block-brightmine-resources-filter has-text-color has-primary-black-color has-background has-primary-white-background-color\">\n\n\n<div class=\"ajax-filter\">\n<div class=\"lnrs-resources-search-filter  editor-posts-filtered-topics \">\n\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_bottom\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_left\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_result_count\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_right\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"loader-container\">\n\t\t<span class=\"loader\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-filter-widget__container\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #E9E7E4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/wage-hour\/employee-classification\/dol-proposes-newish-independent-contractor-rule\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/26021346\/Casual-meeting-of-students-1200x627-1.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">HR News<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/wage-hour\/employee-classification\/dol-proposes-newish-independent-contractor-rule\/\">DOL proposes new(ish) independent contractor rule<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">Understand key changes in the DOL\u2019s proposed independent contractor rule and how it could impact employer compliance.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #E9E7E4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/wage-hour\/minimum-wage\/15-dollar-minimum-wage-coming-to-virginia\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/01\/13011841\/Brightmine-office-worker-working-on-her-laptop-v3-1200x627-1.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">HR News<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/wage-hour\/minimum-wage\/15-dollar-minimum-wage-coming-to-virginia\/\">A $15 minimum wage is coming soon to Virginia<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">Virginia moves toward a $15 minimum wage. Learn how the change impacts businesses and what steps employers should &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #E9E7E4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/wage-hour\/tip-credit-and-tip-pooling-laws-by-state\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/01\/22225522\/Small-group-meeting-1200x627-1.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Charts<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/wage-hour\/tip-credit-and-tip-pooling-laws-by-state\/\">Tip credit and tip pooling by state<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">Explore tip credit and tip pooling laws by state, including minimum cash wage rules and whether tip credit &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fcdab8bb wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">About the author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-primary-gray-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-487c215f3194818361b06b7ff96e94f8 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7fc3d43a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:10px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized has-custom-border is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/12085517\/Brightmine_Favicon_128px.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-681\" style=\"border-radius:25px;object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:10px;padding-left:10px\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Vicki M. Lambert,<\/strong> The Payroll Advisor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Vicki M. Lambert, CPP has over 30 years of hands-on experience in all facets of payroll functions and over 20 years as a trainer and author. She has conducted open market training seminars and lectured extensively on payroll administration and compliance issues for clients such as ADP, CCH Incorporated, Ceridian Employer Services, and The Employer Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">She conceived, coordinated and wrote the manuals for the Payroll Practice and Management certificate program offered through the Extended Education Offices of Chapman University, California State University Long Beach; National University; and California State University, Northridge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bbb7e64f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">Want to learn more?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Sign up for a FREE 7 day trial and access subscriber-only articles and tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-primary-white-color has-secondary-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/hrcenter.us.brightmine.com\/freetrial-login\/?loggedInUrl=%2Ffreetrial%2Fnew-user%2F&amp;registrationUrl=%2Ffreetrial%2Fnew-user%2F&amp;intcmp=hrcc-resources|cta-2-col|light|banner|hrcenterus-freetrial|register-now\" style=\"border-radius:26px\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Register now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What counts as wages varies by state. Use our Fifty State Guide to apply the correct definitions and reduce payroll compliance risk across multiple jurisdictions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":11404,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"wp-custom-template-new-resources","categories":[15],"tags":[119],"topic":[77,85],"class_list":["post-11272","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-charts","tag-50-state-chart","topic-state-compliance","topic-wage-hour"],"_lnrs_read_more":"","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Definition of Wages by State | Brightmine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understand how each state defines \u201cwages.\u201d Our Fifty State Guide helps HR and payroll teams classify pay correctly and maintain accurate, compliant payroll practices.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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