Ohio employment laws for employers: what to check before you hire

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Ohio and US federal rules, as of 31 October 2026. Every fact below was read on the official page linked in the Sources list on 31 October 2026. Laws change; check the official source.

Ohio's minimum wage in the DOL state table is $11.00 for employers with gross receipts of $405,000 or more, and $7.25 below that. Overtime is one and a half times the wage rate over 40 hours in a workweek under Ohio Revised Code 4111.03. Wages are paid on a semimonthly schedule under section 4113.15.

At a glance

  • Minimum wage: see the next section; local rates can be higher.
  • Overtime: federal rule applies; state rules noted where we could open them.
  • Final pay, pay frequency, E-Verify and new hire reporting: stated only where an official source opened.
  • A topic marked "not stated" is not a finding that no rule exists. It means we could not confirm it.

What is the minimum wage in Ohio?

The DOL state table (updated July 1, 2026) lists Ohio at $11.00 per hour for employers with gross receipts of $405,000 or more, and $7.25 for those under $405,000. We did not open the Ohio Department of Commerce minimum wage page, so we do not state its effective date. Check the Department of Commerce for the current threshold and rate.

What are the overtime basics?

Ohio Revised Code section 4111.03(A), opened on the Ohio codes site, says an employer shall pay an employee for overtime at a wage rate of one and one-half times the employee's wage rate for hours worked in excess of 40 hours in one workweek. Overtime applies in the manner and methods provided in, and subject to the exemptions of, sections 7 and 13 of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Agricultural employees are not covered by the Ohio provision, and bona fide executive, administrative and professional employees as defined by the FLSA are excluded from the definition of employee.

When is the final paycheck due in Ohio?

Ohio Revised Code section 4113.15 does not set a separate final-paycheck deadline. It says an employee who is not paid on a regular payday is entitled to that payment at any time thereafter upon demand, and it adds a penalty if wages remain unpaid for thirty days beyond the regularly scheduled payday. Check the Ohio Department of Commerce if an employee separates close to a payday.

How often must Ohio employers pay?

Ohio Revised Code section 4113.15 requires wages to be paid twice a month. Wages earned during the first half of a month are due by the first day of the next month, and wages for the second half are due by the fifteenth of the next month. The section says it does not prohibit daily or weekly payment of wages.

Does Ohio require E-Verify?

We could not open an official source for this topic on 31 October 2026, so no rule is stated here. Check the state labor department before you rely on anything for it. The federal E-Verify employers page (last updated 02/20/2024) did not list state requirements when we opened it, so confirm any state mandate on the state's own site. For the federal Form I-9, see the I-9 and E-Verify checklist. The E-Verify by state page lists what we could confirm across the ten states.

What is new hire reporting in Ohio?

The new hire reporting section we opened (R.C. 3121.89) defines terms only. It defines a newly hired employee as one who has not previously been employed by the employer, or one who was separated from prior employment for at least sixty consecutive days. It does not state a reporting deadline, which is in later sections we did not open, so check the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for the deadline.

A practical tip for Ohio employers

Gross receipts decide which minimum wage applies to your business, so record how you measured them each year.

Employer checklist

  1. Confirm the work location, because state and local rules follow the place of work.
  2. Check the minimum wage for the state and the city or county, and note the date you checked.
  3. Set the payroll schedule against the pay frequency rule, and the offboarding checklist against the final pay rule.
  4. Check whether E-Verify applies to your employee count, and keep the federal I-9 file either way.
  5. Report each new hire on time and keep proof of submission.
  6. Re-read the official pages each quarter and after any announced rule change.

FAQ

What is the Ohio overtime rule? One and one-half times the wage rate for hours over 40 in one workweek, per R.C. 4111.03.

How often must Ohio employers pay? Twice a month under R.C. 4113.15. Daily or weekly pay is allowed.

Does Ohio set a final paycheck deadline? Section 4113.15 does not set a separate one. Check with the Department of Commerce.

Where can I compare states? See the employment laws by state hub, the minimum wage by state table and the final paycheck laws by state page.

Next step: use this checklist with the how to hire an employee guide.

Sources

  • Ohio Revised Code 4111.03, Overtime: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4111.03 (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • Ohio Revised Code 4113.15, Payment of wages: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4113.15 (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • Ohio Revised Code 3121.89, New hire definitions: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3121.89 (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • US DOL, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026): https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state (accessed 31 October 2026)

This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.