2021 Minnesota Minimum Wage
The 2021 Minnesota Minimum Wage is $10.08.
Effective 2021-01-01Source: New year, new minimum-wage rate as of Jan. 1, 2021 (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry)Verified 2026-08-31
Compared with 2020
| Item | 2020 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $10 | $10.08 | +$0.08 (+0.8%) |
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Minnesota allows employers to pay certain workers less than the $10.08 large-employer minimum. Employees under 20 years old may be paid a training wage of $8.21 an hour during their first 90 consecutive days of employment. Employees under 18 years old may be paid the youth wage rate of $8.21 an hour at any time. These are the only subminimum rates Minnesota law provides; there is no separate student wage. Once a minor turns 18 or finishes the 90-day training window (whichever applies), the employer must pay the full state minimum wage that applies based on employer size. Workers in Minneapolis and St. Paul are subject to separate, higher local minimum-wage rates rather than the state figures listed here.
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
In Minnesota, cities and counties may set their own minimum-wage rates above the state level. When a local rate is higher, workers in that jurisdiction are paid the local rate rather than the state figure of $10.08. As of 2021, Minneapolis and St. Paul both have local minimum wages that exceed the state amount, and those rates continue to rise in coming years. Employers with workers in those cities must follow the city's schedule, not the state rate. This means a worker in Minneapolis or St. Paul may earn more per hour than the state figure shown here, while a worker in the rest of Minnesota receives the state minimum. If you work for a large employer elsewhere in the state, the $10.08 rate applies; if your workplace is inside one of these cities, check the local ordinance for the correct rate.
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
When questions arise about Minnesota's minimum wage, workers and employers should contact the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. The department enforces state minimum-wage rules and can provide guidance on which rate applies. For 2021, the large-employer rate is $10.08 an hour. The department's website at www.dli.mn.gov/business/employment-practices/minimum-wage-minnesota provides detailed information about Minnesota's minimum-wage requirements. If you believe your employer is paying less than the required rate, you can file a wage complaint with the department. The department also provides required workplace posters that employers must display. Minnesota law requires employers to give written notice to employees before any change to their rate of pay takes effect.
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 adjusts its minimum wage each year to reflect changes in the cost of living. The state's minimum-wage law requires an annual inflation adjustment so that the dollar amount keeps pace with price increases rather than staying fixed. For 2021, the rate for large employers became $10.08 an hour. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry calculates and announces the new rate each year, with the adjustment taking effect on January 1. The adjustment is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Employers in Minnesota must use the updated rate as of the effective date; continuing to pay the prior year's amount after January 1 would be a violation. The small-employer rate is adjusted by the same percentage each year, preserving the gap between the two tiers.
Minnesota's minimum-wage rates will be adjusted for inflation beginning Jan. 1, 2021, to $10.08 an hour for large employers and $8.21 an hour for other state minimum wages.
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
Large employers must pay at least $10.08 an hour when the employer's annual gross revenues are $500,000 or more.
Other years
Every Minnesota Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state