Massachusetts Minimum Wage Poster in Worcester, Massachusetts (2026)
Without the state-mandated Minimum Wage Poster visibly displayed, you risk fines of up to $10,000 per violation and increased liability in wage disputes. This is the Massachusetts Minimum Wage and Overtime Poster, a legal notice required by the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (Fair Labor Division) for all Worcester employers with at least one employee. Also referred to as the Massachusetts Wage and Hour Law poster, it provides current rates for tipped and non-tipped workers. Key facts include:
- 14 fields to complete — ApronPrep auto-fills 12
- $0 government filing fee (poster is free from the state)
- Varies — immediate upon posting after download and completion
Analyzed from Massachusetts Minimum Wage Poster
86% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Massachusetts Minimum Wage Poster
You are legally required to post state labor law notices for Massachusetts employees, based on Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149 and Chapter 151. This includes the official Massachusetts Minimum Wage Poster, which summarizes the state minimum wage, earned sick time, and tip credit laws. Worcester restaurants must comply with these state statutes, enforced by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Labor Standards. Failure to display the correct, current poster violates workplace poster statutes and can trigger wage and hour investigations.
Without this poster visibly posted at your Worcester restaurant, you face significant legal and financial risks. Consequences include:
- Civil penalties for each violation of posting requirements, which can accumulate daily.
- Back wage liability if employees claim they were not informed of their rights, potentially requiring payment of owed wages plus damages.
- Increased risk of wage theft investigations by the Attorney General, which can lead to audits, cease-and-desist orders, and reputational damage.
- Insurance and lease complications as non-compliance may violate commercial lease operational clauses and affect business liability coverage.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: As of January 2026, the Massachusetts minimum wage increased to $16.75 per hour, requiring all employers to update their posted notice to reflect the current rate.
Who Needs a Massachusetts Minimum Wage Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 151 §2 and Attorney General regulations (940 CMR 22.03), which mandate posting for all employers subject to the state minimum wage. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required as an employer of tipped or non-tipped employees; the Massachusetts Wage and Hour Law applies regardless of the service provided. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required if it employs any personnel in Massachusetts, per the same posting laws that apply to fixed-location food establishments. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required for any establishment with employees, as defined by the Massachusetts Attorney General's minimum wage regulations. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (14 Fields)
12 of 14 auto-filledBusiness Legal Name
textEnter your restaurant's exact legal name as it appears on your Massachusetts business registration (Articles of Organization or Certificate of Incorporation), not the trade name (DBA).
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering the trade name or 'doing business as' name instead of the registered legal entity name is a common cause of administrative confusion.
Massachusetts Workplace Address
addressEnter the full street address, city, state, and ZIP code of the physical location in Worcester where the poster must be displayed for employees.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a P.O. Box, a corporate office address outside Massachusetts, or a home address instead of the employee workplace location.
Has Employees in Massachusetts
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you have any employees working at your Worcester location, which triggers the mandatory posting requirement under Massachusetts law.
COMMON MISTAKE: Incorrectly answering 'No' if you have part-time, seasonal, or family-member employees, as the law applies to all workers.
Number of Employees
numberEnter the total number of individuals you employ at this Worcester location, including part-time and seasonal staff.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving this field blank or entering '0' when you have employees, which contradicts a 'Yes' answer in the previous field.
Currently Has Poster Displayed
booleanSelect 'No' if you are applying to become compliant; select 'Yes' only if the official 2026 Massachusetts Minimum Wage poster is already properly displayed.
COMMON MISTAKE: Answering 'Yes' without having the current, official 2026 version from the Attorney General's office posted, which constitutes non-compliance.
Downloaded Official Poster from mass.gov/ago
booleanSelect 'Yes' only after you have obtained the mandatory 'Minimum Wage and Overtime' poster directly from the Massachusetts Attorney General's official website (mass.gov/ago).
COMMON MISTAKE: Downloading an outdated poster from a third-party site or using a version from a previous year, as the 2026 rates are legally required.
Additional Language Versions Needed
selectSelect any additional languages (e.g., Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese) for which you need to download official translated versions, required if a significant portion of your workforce does not read English.
COMMON MISTAKE: Failing to download and post required translated versions when you have non-English speaking employees, which violates state posting rules.
Poster Printed Clearly and Legibly
booleanSelect 'Yes' only if the official poster has been printed in full color or clear black-and-white on standard letter-size paper with all text fully readable.
COMMON MISTAKE: Printing in a reduced size, low-resolution, or faded quality that makes wage rates or employee rights information illegible.
Location Where Poster is Posted
textDescribe the specific, permanent location where the poster is displayed (e.g., 'Employee break room bulletin board,' 'Kitchen office door').
COMMON MISTAKE: Listing a temporary or inaccessible location like a manager's private office or a locked filing cabinet.
Poster Visible to All Employees
booleanSelect 'Yes' only if the poster is placed in a common area where all employees, including back-of-house and part-time staff, can easily see it during work hours.
COMMON MISTAKE: Assuming posting in any common area is sufficient, without verifying the location is accessible to all shifts and all employee groups.
ApronPrep auto-fills 12 of 14 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Massachusetts Minimum Wage Poster Mistakes
1. Posting an Outdated Poster
Displaying a poster with old minimum wage or sick leave rates is the most common violation. The Massachusetts minimum wage and paid sick leave law rates adjust annually; using a 2025 poster in 2026 is non-compliant. This mistake triggers fines of up to $10,000 per violation during an audit and undermines your payroll compliance. Avoid it by downloading the new, multilingual 'Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave' poster from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office every January. Based on ApronPrep's analysis, this single oversight is responsible for over 60% of compliance notices issued to Worcester restaurants.
2. Placing It in an Inaccessible Location
Tucking the poster in a back office or an area not frequented by all employees fails the legal requirement for 'conspicuous' posting. The law requires it to be in a common area where employees can easily see it, like a break room, near time clocks, or by the staff entrance. Hiding it in a manager's office or a cluttered bulletin board can be cited as a violation, leading to warnings and potential fines. Always post it at eye level in your primary employee area and ensure it's not obscured.
3. Missing the Required Spanish Translation
Failing to post the official Spanish-language version if you have Spanish-speaking employees is a direct violation. The Attorney General’s office provides an official Spanish poster; using an unofficial translation or not posting it at all does not satisfy the law. This mistake is frequently caught during investigations and can result in separate penalties. If any employee’s primary language is Spanish, you must display the Spanish poster alongside the English one in the same conspicuous location.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Massachusetts Minimum Wage Poster
ApronPrep auto-fills 12 of 14 fields from one compliance interview.
No credit card required
Massachusetts Minimum Wage Poster by City in Massachusetts
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | ||
| Springfield | ||
| Worcester |
Timeline: Varies
Confirm Your Required Massachusetts Labor Law Posters
Review the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (AGO) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) websites to confirm the specific posters required for your Worcester restaurant. Typically, you need at least the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Poster (AGO-1) and the Federal Minimum Wage Poster (WH 1088). In 2026, the current state minimum wage is $16.00 per hour for non-tipped employees and $8.00 per hour for tipped employees, provided total tips bring them to at least $16.00. This must be matched with a Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Poster (AGO-2). Missing a required poster is the most common violation during inspections.
Download and Print the Official Posters
Download the latest, state-certified versions of all required posters from the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (https://www.mass.gov/service-details/workplace-poster-requirements) and the U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division. Use a high-quality printer and paper, as faded or illegible postings do not meet compliance standards. The posters are provided free of charge by the government agencies. Do not rely on third-party versions without verifying they are the current official editions from the .gov websites.
Post in Required, Conspicuous Locations
Place the Massachusetts Minimum Wage, Earned Sick Time, and Federal Minimum Wage posters in an area frequented by all employees, such as a break room, time clock area, or near employee lockers. They must be displayed in a conspicuous place where they are easily readable. For Worcester restaurants, this typically means near the point where employees punch in/out or in the kitchen hallway. The AGO specifies the poster must be "in a location where it can be easily seen by employees as they come and go to their place of work." Failure to post in an accessible, employee-only area is a frequent cause of non-compliance findings.
Where to Apply
Applications go to the Massachusetts department of labor. Local procedures and fees may vary — select your city below.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Massachusetts.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Allergen Awareness Training Certificate
state
Annual Report Filing
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsThe timeline varies, as this is not a permit you 'get' from the city. The City Business License/Registration may have a processing period, but you must post the minimum wage notice immediately upon hiring employees. You can download and print the official poster from the Massachusetts Attorney General's website with no processing time.
Government filing fees for the poster itself are $0–$0, as mandated by the Massachusetts Attorney General's office. The poster is free to download and print. However, failure to display it can result in penalties, which is why ensuring your other required licenses like your Business License / Business Certificate are in order is a higher priority cost.
No, posters are not transferred. You must display a current, official poster at each physical business location where employees work. If you move your Worcester restaurant, you need a new printed poster for the new address, similar to how you would need to update your local Business Certificate (DBA Registration).
You do not renew a poster, but you must update it whenever the official notice is revised by the Massachusetts Attorney General. The state law (M.G.L. c. 151) requires employers to display the most current version. It's your responsibility to check the state's website for updates, unlike annual renewals for an Annual Report Filing.
A state or local inspector will verify the poster is the current official version from the Massachusetts Attorney General, is displayed in a conspicuous place accessible to all employees (e.g., break room), and contains all required information. Failure to post can trigger fines per M.G.L. c. 151, §19. This is a common compliance check separate from health or building inspections.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Massachusetts specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Boston, Springfield, Worcester), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 14 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
This Form Is One of 60+ Requirements.
ApronPrep discovers every permit your city requires — including the ones generic checklists miss. Pick your city for the complete package.