2020 Minnesota Minimum Wage
The 2020 Minnesota Minimum Wage is $10.
Effective 2020-01-01Source: New year, new minimum-wage rate as of Jan. 1, 2021 (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry)Verified 2026-08-31
Compared with 2019
| Item | 2019 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $9.86 | $10 | +$0.14 (+1.4%) |
Who it applies to
Employers and employees subject to Minnesota's state minimum wage
What changed this year, and why
Minnesota's minimum wage for large employers increased to $10.00 per hour in 2020, up from $9.86 per hour in 2019. The state adjusts its minimum wage annually for inflation.
Common questions
- What is the difference between large and small employer rates?
- Minnesota has separate minimum wage rates for large employers and small employers. In 2020 the large-employer rate was $10.00 per hour; the small-employer rate was lower.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Minnesota law allows employers to pay certain workers less than the standard $10 hourly minimum wage. A training wage of $8.21 per hour may be paid to employees younger than 20 years of age, but only during the first 90 consecutive days of employment. A separate youth wage rate, also $8.21 per hour, may be paid to employees younger than 18 years of age and is not limited to the first 90 days. These lower rates mean that a teenager starting a job in Minnesota can legally be paid less per hour than an adult coworker performing the same work, at least during the initial training period. After 90 consecutive days, any worker who is 20 or older must receive the full minimum wage. Employers in Minneapolis and St. Paul are not covered by these state rates because those cities have their own higher local minimum wages. Workers in Minnesota who believe they have been paid below the lawful rate for their category should contact the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
The training wage rate, $8.21 an hour, may be paid to employees younger than 20 years of age for the first 90 consecutive days of employment. The youth wage rate, $8.21 an hour, may be paid to employees younger than 18 years of age.
New year, new minimum-wage rate as of Jan. 1, 2021 (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry)
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
Minnesota's 2020 minimum wage of $10 an hour for large employers does not apply everywhere in the state. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry confirms that workers performing jobs in Minneapolis and St. Paul are covered by those cities' own minimum-wage ordinances, which set higher hourly rates than the statewide floor. Employers with locations in those municipalities must pay the city rate that applies at that site, not the $10 state figure. For workers elsewhere in Minnesota, the state rate remains the binding minimum. Minneapolis and St. Paul each phase their rates higher over a multi-year schedule and continue to adjust their rates for inflation thereafter. A Minnesota employee working partly inside one of those cities and partly outside should confirm with the employer which rate applies to each shift, because the two city rates and the state rate can differ in the same workweek.
These state minimum-wage rates will not apply to work performed in the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which have higher minimum-wage rates.
New year, new minimum-wage rate as of Jan. 1, 2021 (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Workers in Minnesota who have questions about the minimum wage rate or believe their employer is not paying the correct amount should contact the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. The department publishes information about Minnesota's minimum-wage rates on its website at www.dli.mn.gov/business/employment-practices/minimum-wage-minnesota. Minnesota law also requires employers to provide each employee with written notice of any change to their rate of pay before the change takes effect. More information about this employee notice requirement is available at www.dli.mn.gov/business/employment-practices/employee-notice. The department maintains workplace posters that employers must display in locations where employees can easily see them, and updated minimum-wage rate posters are available at no cost at www.dli.mn.gov/about-department/workplace-posters. These resources provide the official guidance on what Minnesota employers must pay and what workers are entitled to receive under state law.
More information about Minnesota's minimum-wage rates is available at www.dli.mn.gov/business/employment-practices/minimum-wage-minnesota.
New year, new minimum-wage rate as of Jan. 1, 2021 (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Minnesota's minimum wage rate changes each year to keep pace with rising prices. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry adjusts the rate annually for inflation, so the hourly minimum does not stay fixed at the same dollar amount indefinitely. For 2020, the rate was $10 an hour for large employers. Each year the department announces the new rate before it takes effect, typically in late December, so employers across Minnesota can update their payroll systems and post the required workplace notices. Workers in Minnesota should expect to see their minimum wage go up most years when consumer prices rise, though the exact increase depends on inflation measurements. Employers must display updated posters when the rate changes and must give employees written notice before any change to their rate of pay takes effect. The state's Department of Labor and Industry is responsible for computing and publishing the new rate each year.
The Minnesota minimum wage, $10 an hour for large employers in 2020, is adjusted annually for inflation.
New year, new minimum-wage rate as of Jan. 1, 2021 (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry)
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.
New year, new minimum-wage rate as of Jan. 1, 2021 (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry)
- Hourly
The Minnesota minimum wage, $10 an hour for large employers in 2020, is adjusted annually for inflation.
Other years
Every Minnesota Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state