Section 551.301 - Minimum wage(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and § 551.311 , an agency shall pay each of its employees wages at rates not less than the minimum wage specified in section 6(a)(1) of the Act for all hours of work as defined in subpart D of this part.(2) The minimum wage provisions of the Act do not apply to a criminal investigator receiving availability pay under § 550.181 .(b) An employee has been paid in compliance with the minimum wage provisions of this subpart if the employee's hourly regular rate of pay, as defined in § 551.511(a) of this part, for the workweek is equal to or in excess of the rate specified in section 6(a)(1) of the Act.45 FR 85664, Dec. 30, 1980, as amended at 59 FR 66154, Dec. 23, 1994