U.S. Department of Labor 

Wage and Hour Division 

(Revised July 2008) 

Fact Sheet #17J: First Responders and the Part 541 Exemptions Under the 

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) 

The FLSA requires that most employees in the United States be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all 

hour worked and overtime pay at time and one-half the regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a 

workweek. However, Section 13(a)(1) of the FLSA provides an exemption from both minimum wage and 

overtime pay for employees employed as bona fide executive, administrative, professional and outside sales 

employees. Section 13(a)(1) and Section 13(a)(17) also exempts certain computer employees. To qualify for 

exemption, employees must meet certain tests regarding their job duties and be paid on a salary basis at not less 

than $455 per week. 

Police Officers, Fire Fighters and Other First Responders 

Police officers, detectives, deputy sheriffs, state troopers, highway patrol officers, investigators, inspectors, 

correctional officers, parole or probation officers, park rangers, fire fighters, paramedics, emergency medical 

technicians, ambulance personnel, rescue workers, hazardous materials workers and similar employees (“first 

responders”) who perform work such as preventing, controlling or extinguishing fires of any type; rescuing fire, 

crime or accident victims; preventing or detecting crimes; conducting investigations or inspections for 

violations of law; performing surveillance; pursuing, restraining and apprehending suspects; detaining or 

supervising suspected and convicted criminals, including those on probation or parole; interviewing witnesses; 

interrogating and fingerprinting suspects; preparing investigative reports; and other similar work are not exempt 

under Section 13(a)(1) or the regulations and thus are protected by the minimum wage and overtime provisions 

of the FLSA. 

First responders generally do not qualify as exempt executives because their primary duty is not management. 

They are not exempt administrative employees because their primary duty is not the performance of office or 

non-manual work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the 

employer’s customers. Similarly, they are not exempt learned professionals because their primary duty is not 

the performance of work requiring knowledge of an advanced type in a field or learning customarily acquired 

by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction. Although some first responders have college 

degrees, a specialized academic degree is not a standard prerequisite for employment. 

Where to Obtain Additional Information 

For additional information, visit our Wage and Hour Division Website: http://www.wagehour.dol.gov 

and/or call our toll-free information and helpline, available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in your time zone, 1-866-

4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). 

This publication is for general information and is not to be considered in the same light as official statements of 

position contained in the regulations. 

U.S. Department of Labor 

Frances Perkins Building 

200 Constitution Avenue, NW 

Washington, DC 20210 

1-866-4-USWAGE

 TTY: 1-866-487-9243 

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