Monday, April 4, 2011 | 11:19 a.m.
CARSON CITY – For the first time since 2006, the minimum wage and daily overtime requirements in Nevada will not increase.
State Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek said today the minimum rates will remain at $7.25 per hour for workers who receive health care benefits and the minimum wage for employees who don't have health benefits will stay at $8.25 an hour for the coming year.
An amendment to the Nevada Constitution in 2006 required the labor commissioner to annually determine if the minimum wage should increase based on a formula using an increase in the federal minimum wage and the cost of living.
The federal minimum wage increased by 70 cents an hour in 2007, 2008 and 2009, but did not change in 2010.
“While the cost of living adjustment for this year increased over last year, it is still less than the $2.10 federal increase in the federal minimum wage that went into effect in 2007,” the labor commissioner said.
He said Nevada’s daily overtime requirement is tied to the minimum wage so there won’t be an increase in that category.
Employees who received qualified health benefits from their employers and earned less than $10.85 per hour, and employees earning less than $12.37 per hour who do not receive qualified health benefits must be paid overtime when they work more than eight hours in a 24-hour period.
The changes don't affect employees who are exempt from overtime under state law.
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