2026 Michigan Minimum Wage
The 2026 Michigan Minimum Wage is $13.73.
Effective 2026-01-01Source: State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)Verified 2026-09-01
Who it applies to
Employers in Michigan of two or more employees, which is the coverage line the Department of Labor's table puts above the Michigan rate. The entry adds that the state law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, unless the state wage rate is higher than the federal rate.
What changed this year, and why
The U.S. Department of Labor's table of state minimum wage laws, updated July 1, 2026, lists Michigan's basic minimum rate as $13.73 per hour, applicable to employers of two or more employees. The same entry states that the Michigan minimum wage is scheduled to increase on January 1, 2027 and will then be adjusted annually based on a set formula. No earlier year of this record is published here, so this page states no year-over-year change.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Michigan in 2026?
- It is $13.73 per hour. That is the basic minimum rate the U.S. Department of Labor lists for Michigan in its State Minimum Wage Laws table, in the version updated July 1, 2026. The figure published here is read from that entry alone, so it reflects the state rate as the department recorded it on that date.
- Which Michigan employers have to pay the state minimum wage?
- The department's Michigan entry opens with a coverage line: applicable to employers of two or more employees. That line sits directly above the basic minimum rate, so it governs the rate published here. The entry separately lists premium pay after a designated number of weekly hours, which is a requirement distinct from the hourly minimum.
- When does the Michigan minimum wage go up next?
- The table states that the Michigan minimum wage is scheduled to increase on January 1, 2027. The scheduled amount appears in the same entry, but this page publishes only figures verified for its own year, so the 2027 rate is not restated here. Nothing in the entry schedules a change inside 2026 itself.
- Is the Michigan minimum wage adjusted for inflation?
- The table says it will be. The Michigan entry states that after the scheduled increase on January 1, 2027 the minimum wage will be adjusted annually based on a set formula. The entry does not name the formula, the index behind it or the date each adjusted rate takes effect, so this page does not describe those details.
- How does the Michigan minimum wage interact with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act?
- The Michigan entry states that the state law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, unless the state wage rate is higher than the federal rate. The same table cites the current federal minimum wage in its entries for states with no law of their own, and the Michigan rate sits above that amount.
- Is there a separate tipped minimum wage for Michigan?
- The department's state table lists one basic minimum rate per hour for Michigan and no separate cash wage for tipped employees, so this page does not publish one. The table also states that differential provisions are not displayed in it, naming subminimum rates for minors and students and training wages for new hires as examples.
- Can a Michigan city set a higher minimum wage than the state rate?
- The Department of Labor's table does not answer that. It notes only that some local governments set minimum wage rates higher than their respective state minimum wage, and that those differential provisions are not displayed in the table. The rate on this page is the state-level basic minimum, so any local ordinance falls outside what this source records.
- Where does the $13.73 figure on this page come from?
- From the Wage and Hour Division's State Minimum Wage Laws table at dol.gov, in the snapshot captured for this record, where the Michigan entry gives the basic minimum rate per hour as $13.73 beneath its coverage line. The division notes on that page that it tries to keep the information accurate and that individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
Every amount on this page is a published figure rather than yours. The Minimum wage pay calculator takes the number you enter and works it out against them, showing which published figure it used.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
The $13.73 hourly rate is the federal minimum that covered non-exempt workers must receive, but it does not apply to every worker in every situation. The Fair Labor Standards Act allows states to establish subminimum wage rates for certain categories of employees. Minors and students may be paid less than the standard minimum under these state provisions. Employers may also be permitted to pay a training wage to new hires during an initial period. In addition, some workers are completely exempt from minimum wage coverage under state law. Because these special rates and exemptions are created at the state level, they are not shown in the federal table. Workers and employers must check their own state's rules to determine whether a lower rate applies to a particular employee or situation.
Some states set subminimum rates for minors and/or students or exempt them from coverage or have a training wage for new hires.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
The federal minimum wage sets a floor, but cities and counties are free to establish their own minimum wage rates that exceed the state level. When a local government enacts a higher minimum, employers within that jurisdiction must pay the local rate, even if it is greater than the state minimum. These local ordinances vary widely: some apply only within city limits, others extend to county boundaries, and the covered employers and effective dates differ as well. Because local minimum wage rates change frequently and are not reflected in the federal table, workers and employers must check the rules that apply in their specific city or county to determine the correct rate.
Some local governments set minimum wage rates higher than their respective state minimum wage.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees who work beyond the designated weekly hours are entitled to overtime pay. The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay for each overtime hour worked. The regular rate includes all remuneration for employment, not only the base hourly wage, so the overtime premium is calculated on the employee's full regular rate rather than the posted minimum wage figure alone. Some state laws require daily overtime or use a different multiplier; those state-specific rules are not captured on this page. The footnote applies unless otherwise specified by a particular statute or agreement. Workers should confirm with their state labor office whether additional overtime protections apply beyond the federal standard.
The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
The Wage and Hour Division maintains the information on this page, but it is not a substitute for official guidance. Workers or employers who need to confirm the rate that applies to a particular situation should consult the relevant state labor office, which administers and enforces state minimum wage laws and can provide authoritative information. For federal questions, complaints about unpaid wages, or questions about FLSA coverage, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor is the appropriate point of contact. State labor offices can also explain any subminimum rates, training wages, or exemptions that apply within their jurisdiction.
individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
Michigan in 2026 sets its minimum wage at $13.73 per hour for employers with two or more employees. This state rate exceeds the federal minimum wage floor, so workers in Michigan receive the higher state amount rather than the lower federal figure. Michigan law specifically provides that employment subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act is excluded from state coverage only when the federal rate is higher — meaning the more protective standard always controls. For Michigan workers in 2026, the applicable rate is $13.73 per hour because state law provides greater employee protection than the federal floor. This structure ensures that workers benefit from whichever law — state or federal — gives them the higher wage.
Michigan Applicable to employers of 2 or more employees Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $13.73 The Michigan minimum wage is scheduled to increase on January 1, 2027 to $15.00 per hour and then will be adjusted annually based on a set formula. Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act unless the State wage rate is higher than the federal rate.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Michigan's minimum wage is adjusted each year on a schedule written into state law. For 2026 the rate is $13.73 per hour. Beginning January 1, 2027, the rate is scheduled to rise to $15.00 per hour, and from that point forward it will be adjusted annually based on a set formula tied to changes in the cost of living. The adjustment is announced as part of the state's regular update process, and the new rate takes effect at the start of the year specified. Workers and employers in Michigan can look to the state's published schedule to see the next figure; the 2026 amount of $13.73 is the figure in force for this year, and the 2027 figure of $15.00 is already written into law. After 2027, the annual inflation-based adjustment replaces the scheduled step-ups.
The Michigan minimum wage is scheduled to increase on January 1, 2027 to $15.00 per hour and then will be adjusted annually based on a set formula.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
- Hourly
Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $13.73
Other years
- 2026
Every Michigan Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state