2018 Missouri Minimum Wage
The 2018 Missouri Minimum Wage is $7.85.
Effective 2018-01-01Source: Missouri Minimum Wage Rate Set for 2018 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)Verified 2026-08-30
Compared with 2017
| Item | 2017 | 2018 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.70 | $7.85 | +$0.15 (+1.9%) |
Who it applies to
All businesses in Missouri, with an exemption for certain retail and service businesses
What changed this year, and why
Missouri's minimum wage rate increased to $7.85 per hour for 2018, up from $7.70 in 2017.
Common questions
- What was the minimum wage in Missouri in 2018?
- The Missouri minimum wage in 2018 was $7.85 per hour, effective January 1, 2018.
- Were any businesses exempt?
- Certain retail and service businesses were exempt from the state minimum wage requirement.
- What was the minimum wage for tipped employees?
- Tipped employees had to receive total compensation of at least $7.85 per hour. Employers were required to pay tipped employees at least half of the minimum wage, or the amount needed to bring total compensation to $7.85 per hour.
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Workers and employers in Missouri who have questions about the minimum wage can visit the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations website at www.labor.mo.gov/DLS/MinimumWage/ for detailed information about the state's wage requirements. The department's Division of Labor Standards oversees minimum wage compliance across the state. Workers who believe their employer has not paid the correct wage of $7.85 per hour should contact the department to learn about filing a complaint or seeking guidance. The Missouri Department of Labor announced the 2018 rate on November 20, 2017, and maintains the official online resources for understanding what the hourly rate means for employees and businesses across Missouri. The department provides information on who is covered, how the rate is calculated, and what steps to take if wages are not being paid correctly.
To learn more about minimum wage, visit www.labor.mo.gov/DLS/MinimumWage/.
Missouri Minimum Wage Rate Set for 2018 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
In Missouri, the state minimum wage and the federal minimum wage work together to ensure workers always receive the higher of the two rates. Missouri law specifically does not allow the state's minimum wage rate to be lower than the federal minimum wage rate. For 2018, Missouri set its rate at $7.85 per hour. If the federal rate were higher, the federal amount would apply instead. This means that employees in Missouri are protected by whichever rate is greater at any given time. The state's annual adjustment process, which uses the Consumer Price Index, cannot produce a rate below the federal floor. Workers do not need to take any action to benefit from this protection—it operates automatically under Missouri law. This rule ensures that Missouri workers are never paid less than what federal law requires, even if the state's cost-of-living calculation would otherwise produce a lower figure.
Missouri law does not allow the state’s minimum wage rate to be lower than the federal minimum wage rate.
Missouri Minimum Wage Rate Set for 2018 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Missouri law requires that tipped employees receive total compensation of at least $7.85 per hour. Employers must pay tipped workers a direct cash wage of at least 50 percent of the minimum wage. If an employee's tips combined with that direct wage do not reach $7.85 per hour, the employer must make up the difference. For 2018, this means the employer's cash payment to a tipped worker can be no less than half of the $7.85 state rate, but the employee's total take—cash wages plus tips—must equal at least $7.85 for every hour worked. Employers in Missouri cannot use tips to reduce their obligation below this floor; the combined total must always meet or exceed the state minimum wage. This rule protects tipped workers in Missouri by ensuring they receive the full minimum wage regardless of how much they earn in tips on any given shift.
Compensation for tipped employees must also total at least $7.85 per hour. Employers are required to pay tipped employees at least 50 percent of the minimum wage, or the amount necessary to bring the employee’s total compensation to a minimum of $7.85 per hour.
Missouri Minimum Wage Rate Set for 2018 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
In Missouri, the state minimum wage cannot fall below the federal minimum wage. If the federal rate is higher than Missouri's calculated rate, the higher federal rate applies in the state. For 2018, Missouri set its minimum wage at $7.85 per hour. The state's Department of Labor announced this rate in November 2017, and it took effect on January 1, 2018. This means workers in Missouri are guaranteed at least $7.85 per hour for 2018, and if the federal floor were ever set above that amount, Missouri employers would have to pay the higher federal rate instead. Missouri law specifically prohibits the state rate from being lower than the federal rate, ensuring workers always receive the greater of the two amounts. This protection operates automatically—employees do not need to apply for it or request it. The rule ensures that no matter how the state's annual calculation turns out, Missouri workers will never receive less than what federal law requires.
Missouri law does not allow the state’s minimum wage rate to be lower than the federal minimum wage rate.
Missouri Minimum Wage Rate Set for 2018 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Missouri's minimum wage is adjusted each year based on changes in the cost of living. The Missouri Department of Labor calculates the new rate once per year using the previous year's Consumer Price Index. The rate may go up or down depending on what the index shows. For 2018, the department established the rate at $7.85 per hour, effective January 1. This annual adjustment is mandated by state law and ensures the minimum wage tracks inflation. The announcement for 2018 was made on November 20, 2017, giving employers and workers notice before the new rate took effect. Workers and employers in Missouri can expect the department to publish a new rate each year, and that rate will reflect whether prices rose or fell during the prior year as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
Per state law, the minimum wage rate is calculated once a year and may increase or decrease based on the cost of living as measured by the previous year’s Consumer Price Index.
Missouri Minimum Wage Rate Set for 2018 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
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.
Missouri Minimum Wage Rate Set for 2018 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
- Hourly
All businesses are required to pay at minimum, the $7.85 hourly rate
Other years
Every Missouri Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state