Missouri Minimum Wage 2026
Current year
The 2026 Missouri Minimum Wage is $15.
Effective 2026-01-01Source: State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)Verified 2026-08-29
Compared with 2025
| Item | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $13.75 | $15 | +$1.25 (+9.1%) |
Who it applies to
Employers and employees in Missouri covered by the state minimum wage law. The entry attaches no employer-size condition to the rate, but it names an exemption for federally covered employment and, among others, an exemption for employees of a retail or service business whose gross annual sales or business done fall below a threshold the entry states. 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 Missouri's basic minimum rate as $15.00 per hour. Beside the rate the entry carries a premium-pay line, an exemption clause and a separate premium-pay rule for seasonal amusement or recreation businesses. It 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 Missouri in 2026?
- It is $15.00 per hour. That is the basic minimum rate the U.S. Department of Labor lists for Missouri 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.
- Which Missouri employers are exempt from the state minimum wage?
- The entry names an exemption for federally covered employment and, among others, an exemption for employees of a retail or service business whose gross annual sales or business done fall below a stated sales threshold. The words the entry uses for the second one are 'among others', so its list is expressly incomplete, and the threshold amount is stated in the source entry rather than on this page.
- When do Missouri employers owe overtime pay?
- The entry carries a premium-pay line stating a weekly threshold of hours after which premium pay is due, and it states no daily threshold. It then states a higher hour threshold for premium pay in seasonal amusement or recreation businesses. The table's footnote adds that the overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate unless otherwise specified; both hour counts are stated in the source entry.
- Is there a special overtime rule for seasonal amusement or recreation businesses in Missouri?
- Yes. The entry ends with a sentence stating that premium pay is required in seasonal amusement or recreation businesses after a higher number of hours than the weekly threshold it states for other employment. That is the whole of what the entry says about those businesses: it names no other difference for them, and it states no separate minimum rate for them.
- Does the Missouri minimum wage apply to small businesses?
- The entry attaches no employer-size condition to the rate itself, as some other states' entries do with a headcount line. It does name an exemption for employees of a retail or service business whose gross annual sales or business done fall below a stated threshold, so a small retail or service employer may fall outside the state law on that sales ground rather than on a headcount.
- Is there a separate tipped minimum wage in Missouri?
- The Department of Labor's state table lists one basic minimum rate per hour for Missouri 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.
- Is the Missouri minimum wage adjusted each year?
- The entry states no adjustment formula. Several other entries in the same table say inside the entry that the minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a set formula; Missouri's does not. This page publishes the rate the table listed as of July 1, 2026 and makes no claim about how or when the rate is recalculated, because the source document does not say.
- Where does the $15.00 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 Missouri entry gives the basic minimum rate per hour as $15.00. 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
Some states establish subminimum wage rates for minors, students, or new hires in a training program. These workers may legally be paid less than the standard minimum wage. Some states also exempt certain workers entirely from minimum wage coverage. The verified hourly rate on this page does not apply to these subminimum categories when a state permits them. Employers must follow both federal law and the specific rules in their state, which may set a lower hourly rate for youth workers, student learners, or employees in an approved training period. Before paying a subminimum rate, an employer should confirm that the worker meets the state's definition and that any required certificates or exemptions have been obtained. The exact subminimum dollar amount, the age threshold, and the length of time the lower rate may be paid vary by state.
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
Cities, counties, and other local jurisdictions sometimes enact their own minimum wage that exceeds the state rate. When a local minimum wage is higher, covered employers in that locality must pay the higher local rate, not the lower state rate. The table on this page displays only state-level rates; it does not show local minimum wages. Workers in municipalities or counties with a local minimum wage should check their city or county government's website or labor office to find the rate that actually applies to them. If the local rate is higher than both the state and federal rates, the highest rate applies. Employers operating in multiple jurisdictions within the same state must track which locations are subject to a local wage floor and adjust payroll accordingly.
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, covered non-exempt employees who work beyond a full-time workweek are entitled to overtime pay. The overtime premium is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay. The regular rate includes all compensation such as hourly wages and non-discretionary bonuses, not just the base hourly rate. If an employee earns the verified hourly rate of $15 for all regular hours, each overtime hour must be paid at a higher amount calculated by multiplying that regular rate by one and one-half. Some states require overtime after a different threshold, such as hours beyond a set number in a single day, or at a different multiplier, and those state-level rules are not reflected on this page. Employers covered by both federal and state overtime rules must apply whichever standard produces the greater pay for the worker. The premium must be paid on the regular payday for the pay period in which the overtime was earned.
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 of the U.S. Department of Labor maintains the information on this page and makes reasonable efforts to keep it accurate, but the rates shown are not a substitute for official guidance from the appropriate authorities. Because minimum wage rules can differ significantly by state, locality, and the type of employer or employee involved, individuals who need authoritative information about the wage that applies to them should consult the relevant state labor office. State labor offices can confirm the current minimum wage rate, explain any exemptions or special rates that may apply, and provide guidance on how to file a wage complaint if an employee believes they have not been paid correctly. The Wage and Hour Division also accepts complaints about violations of the federal minimum wage and overtime requirements. Workers with questions or concerns about their pay can contact either the state labor office or the federal Wage and Hour Division to seek assistance.
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 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
Missouri Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.00
By year
Every published year
10 years on record, 2026 back to 2017. Each year links to its own page, its own document and its own verification date.