Connecticut · updated 2026-10
Connecticut Overtime & Break Laws
Time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek.
Overtime
40h / week
Time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek.
C.G.S. 31-76c: 1.5x after 40 hours/week. No general daily overtime. A restaurant/hotel-restaurant wage order requires 1.5x the minimum rate on the 7th consecutive workday (per the DOL table); this is not modeled here.
Meal break
30 min
Yes: 30 minutes for shifts over 7.5 hours, usually unpaid. C.G.S. 31-51ii: 30 consecutive minutes for anyone working 7.5 or more consecutive hours, taken after the first 2 hours and before the last 2. A written agreement can set a different schedule. Exemptions include employers giving 30+ minutes of paid breaks and fewer than 5 employees on a shift. Paid status isn't specified in the statute; the meal is typically unpaid if duty-free.
Rest breaks
Not required
Connecticut law doesn't require rest breaks for adults. Short breaks an employer does give (5–20 minutes) must be paid under federal rules.
Minimum wage
$16.94
$16.94 an hour (since 2026-01-01). Indexed to the employment cost index. The rate rises to $17.48 on 2027-01-01. Lower tipped cash wages apply to restaurant and bartender staff.
Connecticut time card
| Day | Clock in | Break min | Clock out | Hours |
|---|
Connecticut pay and break questions
When does overtime start in Connecticut?
Time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. C.G.S. 31-76c: 1.5x after 40 hours/week. No general daily overtime. A restaurant/hotel-restaurant wage order requires 1.5x the minimum rate on the 7th consecutive workday (per the DOL table); this is not modeled here.
Are lunch breaks required in Connecticut?
Yes: 30 minutes for shifts over 7.5 hours, usually unpaid. C.G.S. 31-51ii: 30 consecutive minutes for anyone working 7.5 or more consecutive hours, taken after the first 2 hours and before the last 2. A written agreement can set a different schedule. Exemptions include employers giving 30+ minutes of paid breaks and fewer than 5 employees on a shift. Paid status isn't specified in the statute; the meal is typically unpaid if duty-free.
Are rest breaks required in Connecticut?
Connecticut law doesn't require rest breaks for adults. Short breaks an employer does give (5–20 minutes) must be paid under federal rules.
What is the minimum wage in Connecticut?
$16.94 an hour (since 2026-01-01). Indexed to the employment cost index. The rate rises to $17.48 on 2027-01-01. Lower tipped cash wages apply to restaurant and bartender staff.
Workers under 18 in Connecticut
Teens have extra limits on hours and times of day, and may need a work permit. See Connecticut teen work rules and which employers hire at 14 and 15.
Questions or a complaint? Contact the Connecticut Department of Labor, Wage and Workplace Standards Division.