# 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/workflows/us-department-of-labor
- Handle: `@us-department-of-labor`
- Category: [Government](https://fous.com/workflows/category/government)
- Source website: https://dol.gov
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with US Department of Labor.

## Methods

### Get minimum wage

Operation `get_minimum_wage`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

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 call.

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

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_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.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

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=120) 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.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_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);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@us-department-of-labor","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## 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

### Is Fous affiliated with US Department of Labor?

No. Fous is not affiliated with US Department of Labor. This workflow reads the public dol.gov website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. 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; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check 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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