Answer
Kansas incorporates the federal $7.25 by reference in K.S.A. 44-1203, so a federal raise would move Kansas the same day. For nearly every commercial cleaning company the FLSA governs outright — the state act only reaches employers federal law does not.
- Statewide minimum is $7.25/hr, tied directly to the federal floor; no city or county rate sits above it.
- Competitive Wichita and Kansas City (KS) cleaning wages typically run well above the legal floor.
- Overtime follows the FLSA at 40 hours; Kansas does not add a daily overtime rule.
$7.25/hr Kansas minimum wage (2026)
Kansas Wage & Hour Rules for Cleaning Workers
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Kansas Minimum Wage for Cleaning Workers (2026)
Kansas sets its minimum wage at $7.25 under K.S.A. 44-1203 by incorporating the federal rate directly — meaning if Congress ever raises the FLSA minimum, Kansas moves the same day without a vote in Topeka. No Kansas city or county has enacted a higher local rate. The provision worth reading twice is coverage: the Kansas act reaches only employers the FLSA does not, so for nearly every commercial cleaning company the federal rules govern outright.
Wichita and Kansas City (KS) market note: Competitive cleaning wages in Wichita and the Kansas City (Kansas side) metro area typically run $13–$17/hr — well above the legal minimum. Missouri-side Kansas City has a higher minimum wage ($12.00+) which influences the broader metro market.
| Jurisdiction | Minimum Wage | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas statewide | $7.25/hr | Tied to federal floor | dol.ks.gov |
| Wichita | $7.25/hr | No local ordinance | dol.ks.gov |
| Kansas City (KS) | $7.25/hr | Missouri-side has higher rate — verify by worksite | DOL |
Kansas Overtime Rules
Kansas follows federal FLSA overtime standards:
- Weekly overtime: Time-and-a-half for all hours over 40 in a workweek
- No Kansas-specific daily overtime
- K.S.A. 44-1204 (Kansas Minimum Wage and Maximum Hours) aligns with FLSA
Kansas City metro note: BSCs operating on both sides of the Kansas-Missouri state line must apply the rules of the state where the employee performs work. An employee cleaning accounts in Missouri on certain days and Kansas on others must have overtime calculated on the 40-hour FLSA workweek — the state lines do not create separate workweeks.
Meal and Rest Break Requirements
Kansas has no state law mandating meal or rest breaks for adult employees. FLSA rules apply. Kansas youth workers (under 16): no specific state break requirement, but FLSA child labor provisions limit hours.
Pay Frequency Requirements
Kansas Wage Payment Act (K.S.A. 44-314) requires:
- Wages paid on the employer's established regular payday at least monthly (biweekly strongly preferred)
- Final wages after involuntary termination: due by the next regular payday or within 30 days of discharge, whichever is sooner
- Unauthorized deductions prohibited without written employee consent
Workers' Compensation in Kansas
Administered by the Kansas Division of Workers Compensation (part of Kansas Department of Labor):
- Required for employers with 1 or more employees (K.S.A. 44-501 — no minimum headcount)
- NCCI Class Code 9014 (Janitors) applies
- Estimated rates: $3.00–$5.50 per $100 payroll
- Kansas competitive private carrier market; also allows approved self-insurance
Sole proprietor exclusion: Partners and sole proprietors may elect to exclude themselves by filing with their carrier.
Prevailing Wage
Kansas has no state prevailing wage law for service contracts. Federal SCA applies to federal facility cleaning contracts — check SAM.gov wage determinations for Kansas.
Right-to-Work Status
Kansas is a right-to-work state (K.S.A. 44-831 et seq.). Union density in Kansas cleaning is minimal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Kansas set its minimum wage for cleaning workers?
By reference to the federal rate. K.S.A. 44-1203 ties the Kansas minimum to the federal floor, currently $7.25, which means a federal increase would move Kansas the same day without any action in Topeka. No Kansas city or county sits above it. For nearly every commercial cleaning company the FLSA governs directly anyway, since the state act reaches only employers federal law does not cover.
How do I handle payroll for crews working both sides of the Kansas City line?
Wages and withholding follow where the work is performed, not where your office sits. A tech working only in Kansas City, Kansas uses Kansas withholding and the $7.25 floor. One working only in Kansas City, Missouri uses Missouri withholding, the Missouri minimum, and the 1 percent city earnings tax. An employee who splits a shift between both requires apportionment. Get a payroll provider with genuine multi-state experience before you take your first cross-border account.
Does the tipped minimum wage ever apply to cleaning workers in Kansas?
Effectively no. K.S.A. 44-1203 permits a $2.13 tipped rate for employees regularly receiving more than $30 a month in tips, provided tips bring them to $7.25 overall. Commercial cleaning workers do not receive tips in any normal arrangement, so the standard minimum applies. Some residential operators have tried to lean on this provision, and it does not survive scrutiny where tipping is not a genuine and regular part of the compensation.
What do cleaning workers actually earn in Wichita and Kansas City?
Well above the $7.25 floor, because the statutory minimum has no bearing on a labor market competing with distribution and manufacturing employers. Wichita's aviation manufacturing base and the Kansas City logistics corridor both draw from the same worker pool as commercial cleaning. Build your bid off a real local wage assumption and your actual turnover experience, since a route priced at the legal minimum will not staff and the recruiting cost of constant churn exceeds the wage you tried to save.
How we built this guide
Opora editorial sources from BLS OEWS wage tables, ISSA-447 production rates, NCCI workers' compensation classifications, EPA List N, OSHA 29 CFR standards, and primary state regulatory filings. We don't recycle blog posts — we audit primary documents.
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