Employment Contract Template

By State

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

 

By Type (6)

• At-Will Employment Agreement – Flexible arrangements with no set end date.
• Independent Contractor Agreement – Freelancers, consultants, creatives.
• Internship Agreement – Students or entry-level roles for experience
• Non-Compete Agreement – Sensitive industries where IP/trade secrets matter
• Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) – Protects private information during and after employment
• Subcontractor Agreement – Used when contractors outsource parts of a job

 

What’s Typically Included?

Here are the most common sections you’ll find in an employment agreement:

• Position & Responsibilities – What is the role, what’s expected, and to whom does the employee report?
• Pay – Whether hourly or salaried, how often it’s paid, and if bonuses or commissions are offered.
• Benefits – Health insurance, retirement contributions, PTO, parental leave, etc.
• Probation Period – A trial window (typically 60–90 days) before full employment begins.
• Termination Clause – How and when either party can end the relationship.
• Confidentiality & IP Ownership – Ensuring company data and inventions are protected.
• Non-Compete (if applicable) – Prevents an employee from joining a competitor immediately after leaving.

Depending on the job or industry, the agreement might include a non-disclosure clause, a non-compete, or even a trial period before full employment benefits kick in.

 

Before You Hire: Hiring Checklist (Step-by-Step)

Hiring the right person is more than just paperwork! Here’s a step-by-step to walk you through the process:

1. Post the Job

Use platforms like:

• Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor – for experienced professionals
• Monster, CollegeGrad – for entry-level roles
• Facebook, your website – for local or word-of-mouth hiring

2. Review Applications Thoughtfully

Look for skill match and culture fit. Red flags aren’t always obvious — take your time.

3. Interview With Intention

Ask open-ended questions, present hypothetical challenges, and look beyond the resume.

4. Background Check

Especially important for roles that involve finances, working with minors, or sensitive data. Services like GoodHire or Checkr make this easy and affordable.

5. Negotiate Terms

Clarify expectations: hours, benefits, vacation, flexibility, salary or hourly rate, start date, and reporting structure.

6. Write & Sign the Contract

Use the customizable template. Have both parties review and sign — notarize if needed.

7. Complete New Hire Paperwork

• IRS Form W-4 (for payroll withholding)
• Direct Deposit Form
• Access to the company handbook or policies

 

Common Questions

What’s the difference between an employee and an independent contractor?
An employee works under company supervision and has taxes withheld. Contractors work independently and handle their taxes.

What is at-will employment?
Most U.S. workers are hired “at-will,” meaning either party can end the employment at any time, as long as it’s not for an illegal reason (like discrimination or retaliation).

Can I include a non-compete clause?
Yes — but it must be reasonable in scope, time, and geography. Many states are limiting or banning strict non-competes, so check local laws.

Are employers required to offer benefits?
Only under certain conditions (like having 50+ employees and offering health insurance per the ACA). However, offering benefits can help you attract better talent.

 

IRS Forms to Know

W4 (for Employees) – Allows the employer to withhold the correct federal tax
W-9 (for Contractors) – For collecting tax info from freelancers/contractors

 

Employment Discrimination Laws (Federal)

Under U.S. law, hiring decisions must not be based on:

• Race or ethnicity
• Religion or faith
• Gender or sexual orientation
• Pregnancy or family status
• Disability or age (40+)
• Genetic information
• National origin

For complete protection details, visit the EEOC website.

 

State-Specific Templates

Employment laws vary — check state-specific templates for extra accuracy:

State	Minimum Wage ($/hr)	Laws
Alabama	$7.25	29 U.S.C. § 206
Alaska	$10.34	A.K. Dept. of Labor
Arizona	$12.80	A.Z. Dept. of Labor
Arkansas	$11.00	A.C.A. § 11-4-210
California	$15.00 / $14.00	Cal. Com. Code § 1182.12
Colorado	$14.81	C.O. Dept. of Labor
Connecticut	$13.00	PA 19-4 – HB 5004
Delaware	$10.50	Del. Code tit. 19, § 902
Florida	$10.00	Fla. Stat. § 448.110
Georgia	$7.25	29 U.S.C. § 206
Hawaii	$10.10	Haw. Rev. Stat. § 387-2
Idaho	$7.25	Idaho Code § 44-1502
Illinois	$12.00	820 Ill. Comp. Stat. §105/4
Indiana	$7.25	IC § 22-2-2-4(h)
Iowa	$7.25	Iowa Code § 91D.1(b)
Kansas	$7.25	Kan. Stat. § 44-1203
Kentucky	$7.25	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 337.275
Louisiana	$7.25	La. Stat. § 23:642
Maine	$12.75	Me. Stat. tit. 26, §664
Maryland	$12.50	M.D. Dept. of Labor
Massachusetts	$14.25	M.A. Dept. of Labor
Michigan	$9.87	M.I. Dept. of Labor
Minnesota	$10.33 / $8.42	M.N. Dept. of Labor
Mississippi	$7.25	29 U.S.C. § 206
Missouri	$11.15	M.O. Dept. of Labor
Montana	$9.20	M.T. Dept. of Labor
Nebraska	$9.00	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-1203
Nevada	$8.75 / $9.75	N.V. Dept. of Labor
New Hampshire	$7.25	N.H. Rev. Stat. § 279:21
New Jersey	$13	N.J. Rev. Stat. § 12:56-3.1
New Mexico	$11.50	N.M. Stat. § 50-4-22
New York	$13.20	N.Y. Dept. of Labor
North Carolina	$7.25	N.C. Gen Stat. § 95-25.3
North Dakota	$7.25	N.D. Cent. Code. § 34-06-22
Ohio	$9.30	O.H. Dept. Of Commerce
Oklahoma	$7.25	Okla. Stat. § 40-197.2
Oregon	$12.75	Or. Rev. Stat. § 653.025
Pennsylvania	$7.25	Act 5, § 4a.1
Rhode Island	$12.25	R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-3
South Carolina	$7.25	29 U.S.C. § 206
South Dakota	$9.95	S.D. Dept. of Labor
Tennessee	$7.25	29 U.S.C. § 206
Texas	$7.25	Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 62.051
Utah	$7.25	Utah Code R610-1-3
Vermont	$12.55	Vt. Stat. tit. 21, § 384
Virginia	$11.00	Va. Code. § 40.1-28.10
Washington	$14.49	W.A. Dept. of Labor
Washington D.C.	$15.20	W.V. Dept. of Employment
West Virginia	$8.75	W. Va. Code § 21-5C-2
Wisconsin	$7.25	Wis. Stat. § 104.035
Wyoming	$7.25	29 U.S.C. § 206