# US Department of Labor API

> US Department of Labor returns wage, overtime, and break data as a workflow and API.

US Department of Labor’s Get minimum wage returns wage rates, tipped wages, and scheduled increases for a state or federal input. Get overtime and break rules returns state overtime and adult private-sector meal and rest break rules for a state input.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/us-department-of-labor
- Handle: `@us-department-of-labor`
- Category: [Government](https://fous.com/tools/category/government)
- Source website: https://dol.gov
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Get minimum wage

Operation `get_minimum_wage`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Get a state or federal hourly minimum wage, tipped cash wage and tip credit, future dated increases, notes, and the page update date. Regional and employer-specific exceptions may not have one statewide tipped rate.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `state` | string | yes | `"Michigan"` | US state name, two-letter postal code, or federal, for example California. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "state"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "state": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "US state name, two-letter postal code, or federal, for example California.",
      "examples": [
        "Michigan",
        "California",
        "federal"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "state": "Michigan"
    },
    {
      "state": "California"
    },
    {
      "state": "federal"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `notes` | string | `"Federal Fair Labor Standards Act rate for covered employees. States and localities can require higher wages."` |  |
| `state` | string | `"Michigan"` |  |
| `page_url` | string | `"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state#mi"` |  |
| `last_updated` | string or null | `"2026-07-01"` |  |
| `applicable_rate` | string | `"State minimum wage"` |  |
| `scheduled_increases` | array |  |  |
| `scheduled_increases[].date` | string | `"2027-01-01"` |  |
| `scheduled_increases[].description` | string | `"The Michigan minimum wage is scheduled to increase on January 1, 2027 to $15.00 per hour and then will be adjusted annu` |  |
| `scheduled_increases[].minimum_hourly_wage_usd` | number | `15` |  |
| `maximum_tip_credit_usd` | number or null | `8.24` |  |
| `minimum_cash_wage_tipped_usd` | number or null | `5.49` |  |
| `state_minimum_hourly_wage_usd` | number or null | `13.73` |  |
| `federal_minimum_hourly_wage_usd` | number | `7.25` |  |
| `applicable_minimum_hourly_wage_usd` | number | `13.73` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "state": "Michigan"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "notes": "Applicable to employers of 2 or more employees\nThe Michigan minimum wage is scheduled to increase on January 1, 2027 to $15.00 per hour and then will be adjusted annually based on a set formula.\nPremi…",
  "state": "Michigan",
  "page_url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state#mi",
  "last_updated": "2026-07-01",
  "applicable_rate": "State minimum wage",
  "scheduled_increases": [
    {
      "date": "2027-01-01",
      "description": "The Michigan minimum wage is scheduled to increase on January 1, 2027 to $15.00 per hour and then will be adjusted annually based on a set formula.",
      "minimum_hourly_wage_usd": 15
    }
  ],
  "maximum_tip_credit_usd": 8.24,
  "minimum_cash_wage_tipped_usd": 5.49,
  "state_minimum_hourly_wage_usd": 13.73,
  "federal_minimum_hourly_wage_usd": 7.25,
  "applicable_minimum_hourly_wage_usd": 13.73
}
```

### Get overtime and break rules

Operation `get_overtime_and_break_rules`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Get a state’s overtime premium and adult private-sector meal and paid rest break requirements from U.S. Department of Labor state-law pages. Break tables were last revised January 2023; listed coverage and exceptions may limit the rules.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `state` | string | yes | `"CA"` | US state name or two-letter postal code, for example Washington or WA. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "state"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "state": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "US state name or two-letter postal code, for example Washington or WA.",
      "examples": [
        "CA",
        "Washington",
        "Texas"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "state": "CA"
    },
    {
      "state": "Washington"
    },
    {
      "state": "Texas"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `state` | string | `"California"` |  |
| `dol_links` | object |  |  |
| `dol_links.overtime` | string | `"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state#ca"` |  |
| `dol_links.meal_breaks` | string | `"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/meal-breaks"` |  |
| `dol_links.rest_periods` | string | `"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/rest-periods"` |  |
| `overtime_rule` | string | `"1.5 times regular pay after 8 hours in a day, after 40 hours in a workweek, and for the first 8 hours on the seventh co` |  |
| `meal_break_rule` | string | `"30 minutes, if work period is more than 5 consecutive hours, to be given not less than 2 hours nor more than 5 hours fr` |  |
| `rest_break_rule` | string | `"Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof; as practicable, in middle of each work pe` |  |
| `exceptions_and_notes` | string | `"Overtime: The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. ` |  |
| `only_federal_overtime_rule` | boolean | `false` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "state": "CA"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "state": "California",
  "dol_links": {
    "overtime": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state#ca",
    "meal_breaks": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/meal-breaks",
    "rest_periods": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/rest-periods"
  },
  "overtime_rule": "1.5 times regular pay after 8 hours in a day, after 40 hours in a workweek, and for the first 8 hours on the seventh consecutive workday; double pay after 12 hours in a day or after 8 hours on the sev…",
  "meal_break_rule": "30 minutes, if work is for more than 5 hours per day, except when workday will be completed in 6 hours or less and there is mutual employer/employee consent to waive meal period. On-duty meal period c…",
  "rest_break_rule": "Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof; as practicable, in middle of each work period. Not required for employees whose total daily work time is less than 3 and ½…",
  "exceptions_and_notes": "Overtime: Exceptions apply to an employee working pursuant to an alternative workweek adopted pursuant to applicable Labor Code sections and for time spent commuting. (See Labor Code section 510 for e…",
  "only_federal_overtime_rule": false
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@us-department-of-labor",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_minimum_wage",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "state": "Michigan"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@us-department-of-labor\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_minimum_wage\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"state\": \"Michigan\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@us-department-of-labor",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_minimum_wage",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "state": "Michigan"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/us-department-of-labor`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `get_minimum_wage`: Get minimum wage. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `get_overtime_and_break_rules`: Get overtime and break rules. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-us-department-of-labor https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/us-department-of-labor --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Compare state and federal minimum wage rates
- Track scheduled minimum wage increases
- Review tipped cash wages and tip credits
- Compare state overtime premiums
- Check state meal and rest break requirements

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this US Department of Labor tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a US Department of Labor account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from dol.gov when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### What is the minimum wage in a state?

Get minimum wage returns the applicable hourly minimum wage for the state or federal input.

### Are minimum wage increases scheduled?

Get minimum wage returns scheduled increases, including their dates, descriptions, and hourly wage amounts.

### What overtime and break rules apply in a state?

Get overtime and break rules returns state overtime premiums and adult private-sector meal and paid rest break requirements, with exceptions and notes.

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