Louisiana overtime.
Louisiana follows federal FLSA overtime: 1.5× after 40 hours per workweek.
LA
40
hrs
—
—
$7.25
/hr
federal rate
How Louisiana calculates overtime.
Weekly overtime
Hours over 40 per workweek paid at 1.5×
Daily overtime
Not required by state law
Double time
Not required by state law
7th consecutive day
No special rule
Calculate your Louisiana overtime
The weekly timesheet automatically applies LA rules.
Who's outside the rules
These categories of employees may be exempt from the overtime requirements above:
01
Standard FLSA exemptions apply
Louisiana has no state minimum wage or overtime law.
Louisiana Workforce Commission
(225) 342-3111
https://www.laworks.net
Louisiana at a glance
Louisiana's economy is heavily influenced by its energy sector, with the state handling 61% of U.S. liquefied natural gas exports and hosting about one-sixth of the nation's refining capacity. While oil, gas, and petrochemicals remain significant, their share of state GDP has declined from 33% at the turn of the century to 14% today, with growing diversification into timber, seafood, and military sectors.
Industries with frequent overtime
Oil, Gas, and Petrochemicals
Refinery operators, pipeline workers, and petrochemical plant employees frequently work overtime during turnarounds, maintenance shutdowns, and to maintain 24/7 production operations.
Maritime and Port Operations
With the Port of South Louisiana among the nation's busiest, longshoremen, ship workers, and port logistics employees commonly work overtime during peak shipping seasons.
Healthcare
Nurses and healthcare workers often work overtime due to staffing needs, particularly in rural areas and following natural disasters common to the Gulf Coast region.
Construction
Industrial construction workers, particularly on petrochemical and LNG facility projects, frequently work extended overtime hours to meet project deadlines.
Louisiana overtime FAQ
No. Louisiana has not enacted state laws regarding overtime pay or minimum wage. Workers in Louisiana are protected only by federal FLSA regulations, which require overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek.
Following federal guidelines, employees must earn at least $844 per week ($43,888 annually) and meet specific job duty requirements for executive, administrative, or professional exemptions. Job titles alone do not determine exemption status; actual job duties must be evaluated.
Under federal law, you can recover all unpaid overtime wages for two or three years prior to filing, plus liquidated damages equal to the unpaid amount (effectively doubling your recovery), plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Filing a wage claim in Louisiana
If you believe you're owed unpaid overtime, here's what to do — in order.
First, contact your employer directly to see if the unpaid wages resulted from a payroll error that can be resolved internally.
If unresolved, file a complaint with the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) online or by calling 1-800-201-3362.
You may also file with the federal Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Consider consulting an employment attorney, as Louisiana follows federal law only and civil litigation may be necessary for complex cases.
Louisiana is one of only five states with no state minimum wage or overtime laws, relying entirely on federal FLSA protections. This means workers must meet federal thresholds and requirements, and wage claims are primarily handled through federal channels. The state has no additional worker protections beyond what federal law provides.
For general education only. Overtime law changes and has exceptions not listed here. For a specific situation, talk to your employer's HR department, the Louisiana Department of Labor, or an employment attorney.