Minnesota Minimum Wage 2026
Current year
The 2026 Minnesota Minimum Wage is $11.41.
Effective 2026-01-01Source: State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2025
| Item | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $11.13 | $11.41 | +$0.28 (+2.5%) |
Who it applies to
Employers and employees in Minnesota covered by the state minimum wage law. The table gives the basic minimum rate with no employer-size condition attached, and adds a premium-pay line stating a weekly threshold of hours after which premium pay is due. The table does not display subminimum rates for minors, students or trainees, training wages for new hires, or any higher rate set by a local government.
What changed this year, and why
The U.S. Department of Labor's table of state minimum wage laws, updated July 1, 2026, lists Minnesota's basic minimum rate as $11.41 per hour. The entry states that the minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a set formula, so the figure is a recalculated one, though the entry names neither the formula nor the date it is applied. The table records no later step inside 2026, and 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 Minnesota in 2026?
- It is $11.41 per hour. That is the basic minimum rate the U.S. Department of Labor lists for Minnesota in its State Minimum Wage Laws table, in the version updated July 1, 2026. The figure published here is taken from that entry and from no other source, so it reflects the state rate as the department recorded it on that date.
- How is the Minnesota minimum wage adjusted each year?
- The entry states that the minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a set formula. That sentence is all the table gives about the mechanism: it names no index, no calculation and no date on which a recalculated rate takes effect. The rate on this page is the one the table listed as of July 1, 2026, and it would change here only when the department republishes the table and this record is verified again.
- When do Minnesota employers owe overtime pay?
- The entry carries a premium-pay line stating a weekly threshold of hours after which premium pay is due, and no daily threshold. The weekly hour count in Minnesota's entry is not the same as the one most other entries in this table state, so it is worth reading in the source. The table's footnote adds that the overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate unless otherwise specified.
- Is there a separate tipped minimum wage in Minnesota?
- The Department of Labor's state table lists one basic minimum rate per hour for Minnesota and no separate cash wage for tipped employees, so this page does not publish one. The same table states plainly that differential provisions are not displayed in it, naming subminimum rates for minors and students and training wages for new hires as its examples, so a tipped provision would sit outside what this source records.
- Does the Minnesota minimum wage depend on the size of the employer?
- The entry attaches no employer-size condition to the rate. For some other states the same table opens the entry with a coverage line limiting the rate to employers at or above a stated headcount, and Minnesota's entry carries no such line; it gives one basic minimum rate, a premium-pay line and the adjustment sentence, and nothing further about coverage.
- Is Minnesota's minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage?
- Yes. The same table cites the current federal minimum wage in its entries for states that have no minimum wage law of their own, and Minnesota's basic minimum rate is above that amount. The Minnesota entry carries no clause adopting the federal rate by reference, and none replacing the state rate when the federal rate is higher, which some other states' entries do carry.
- Do city minimum wages in Minnesota override the state rate?
- The table does not answer that. It notes that some local governments set minimum wage rates higher than their respective state minimum wage, and that such differential provisions are not displayed in the table. The $11.41 per hour figure on this page is the state-level basic rate only, so a local ordinance sits outside what this source records.
- Where does the $11.41 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 Minnesota entry gives the basic minimum rate per hour as $11.41. The division notes on the same page that it tries to ensure the information is 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
While the federal minimum wage sets a baseline, certain categories of workers may be paid less than the standard rate under specific conditions. Some states authorize employers to pay minors and students a subminimum wage that falls below the regular minimum. Additionally, some states exempt these groups from minimum wage coverage entirely or establish a separate training wage for newly hired employees. These special wage provisions vary by state and are not reflected in the $11.41 hourly rate shown on this page. Workers and employers should verify whether any subminimum or training wage applies in their jurisdiction, as the rules governing youth employment and trainee compensation differ significantly across states.
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 minimum wage rates displayed on this page reflect state-level standards, but they do not capture the full picture of local wage requirements. Many cities and counties establish their own minimum wage rates that exceed the state minimum. When a local jurisdiction sets a higher rate, employers within that area must pay the local rate rather than the state rate. These local wage ordinances are not included in the table on this page, so workers and employers should check with their city or county government to determine if a higher local minimum wage applies. The $11.41 hourly rate shown here represents the state standard, but actual pay requirements may be greater in jurisdictions with local wage laws.
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
Federal law requires that covered, nonexempt employees receive overtime pay for hours worked beyond a designated weekly threshold. The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay. This means that for each overtime hour worked, the employee must receive at least one and one-half times their normal hourly wage. Some states and local jurisdictions may have different overtime rules or additional requirements, so workers should verify the specific overtime standards that apply in their area. The $11.41 hourly rate shown on this page represents the standard minimum wage, but overtime hours must be calculated at the premium rate based on the employee's actual regular rate of pay.
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
If you have questions about minimum wage rates or need to file a wage complaint, the Wage and Hour Division recommends consulting the relevant state labor office for official information. While the federal agency maintains this page and attempts to ensure its accuracy, state labor offices are the authoritative source for wage requirements in each jurisdiction. Workers who believe they have not been paid the correct minimum wage or overtime should contact their state labor office to understand their rights and the proper process for addressing wage violations. The state labor office can provide guidance on both the $11.41 hourly rate and any applicable subminimum wages, local rates, or overtime requirements that may apply to specific situations.
The Wage and Hour Division tries to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, but individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Minnesota adjusts its minimum wage each year using a cost-of-living formula tied to inflation. The state does not require new legislation to change the rate; instead, the formula updates the wage automatically based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry calculates and announces the new rate before it takes effect. For 2026, the adjusted hourly minimum wage is $11.41. This automatic adjustment prevents the real purchasing power of the wage floor from eroding over time and ensures that covered workers' earnings keep pace with rising prices across the state economy.
Minnesota Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $11.41 Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 48 The minimum wage is 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
Minnesota Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $11.41
By year
Every published year
8 years on record, 2026 back to 2018. Each year links to its own page, its own document and its own verification date.