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The Mandate Monitor

What employers in New Hampshire must do

Checked November 8, 2026From the agencies that run each program

Short answer

Most employers in New Hampshire must pay at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour; New Hampshire doesn’t set a higher one.

New Hampshire has no state paid family and medical leave insurance program.

Running payroll in New Hampshire? See the do-it-yourself route and list prices for the 8 payroll systems that say they file payroll taxes.

New Hampshire requirements at a glance

RequirementStatusWhat it means for you
Minimum wageIn effect$7.25 an hour

Pay rules New Hampshire employers must follow

Paydays
Weekly or every two weeks. Paying less often (twice a month or monthly) needs written approval from the New Hampshire Department of Labor.
Final paycheck, fired
Within 72 hours.
Final paycheck, quit
By the next regular payday. If the employee gave one pay period’s notice, within 72 hours.
Meal breaks
30-minute meal break after 5 hours in a row. If that isn’t possible, the employee must be paid while eating and working.
Rest breaks
We found no state requirement for adults.
Overtime
Time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. State law exempts employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which follow the federal rule, and some amusement, seasonal or recreational businesses.
New hire reporting
Within 20 days of the first day of work, to the New Hampshire Employment Security. Independent contractors count as new hires too if payment is expected to exceed $2,500 or does exceed $2,500 in a calendar year.

From the New Hampshire Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor’s state tables, checked November 7, 2026.

Upcoming New Hampshire deadlines

No dated New Hampshire deadlines on file right now. Federal year-end filings still apply.

Deadline calendar for every state · How to hire your first employee · Employer law changes for 2027 · All states

Sources

  1. New Hampshire Department of Labor
  2. State Payday Requirements (last revised January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 7, 2026)
  3. Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (last revised January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 7, 2026)
  4. Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (last revised January 1, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 7, 2026)
  5. State Minimum Wage Laws, including premium (overtime) pay after designated hours (updated November 5, 2026), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 7, 2026)
  6. Wages and Work Hours FAQs, New Hampshire Department of Labor (read Nov 8, 2026)
  7. RSA 275:43, Weekly payment of wages, New Hampshire General Court (read Nov 7, 2026)
  8. Request for Payment of Wages Other than Weekly or Biweekly, New Hampshire Department of Labor (read Nov 8, 2026)
  9. Business Compliance: new hire reporting, New Hampshire Employment Security (read Nov 8, 2026)
  10. New Hire Reporting: An Employer’s Guide (NHES 0082), New Hampshire Employment Security (read Nov 7, 2026)
  11. RSA 279:21, Minimum hourly rate, New Hampshire General Court (read Nov 8, 2026)
  12. RSA 275:44, Employees separated from payroll before pay days, New Hampshire General Court (read Nov 8, 2026)
  13. RSA 282-A:117-a, State directory of new hires, New Hampshire General Court (read Nov 8, 2026)