2019 Missouri Minimum Wage
The 2019 Missouri Minimum Wage is $8.60.
Effective 2019-01-01Source: Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2019 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)Verified 2026-08-30
Compared with 2018
| Item | 2018 | 2019 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.85 | $8.60 | +$0.75 (+9.6%) |
Who it applies to
Private employers in Missouri. Small retail and service businesses below a gross-receipts threshold set in state law are exempt. Tipped employees must receive at least $8.60 per hour in total compensation, with the employer paying a direct cash wage of at least half the minimum wage.
What changed this year, and why
Missouri's state minimum wage for private employers increased to $8.60 per hour, effective January 1, 2019, up from $7.85 per hour in 2018.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage for tipped employees in Missouri?
- Employers must pay tipped employees a direct cash wage of at least half the minimum wage, plus any additional amount needed so that total compensation reaches at least $8.60 per hour.
- Are all employers covered by the Missouri minimum wage?
- The state minimum wage applies to private employers. Small retail and service businesses below a gross-receipts threshold set in state law are exempt. Public employers are not covered by the state minimum wage law.
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
If you have questions about Missouri's 2019 minimum wage of $8.60 or need to file a wage complaint, you should consult the relevant state labor office. The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations oversees wage and hour laws in the state. Workers can contact the department's Division of Labor Standards to ask questions about whether their employer is paying the correct rate, to understand their rights under state law, or to report a potential violation. The department's website at labor.mo.gov/DLS/MinimumWage provides additional information about minimum wage requirements. Employers with compliance questions can also reach out to the department for guidance. The press release notes that a printable poster about the updated rate is available at labor.mo.gov/posters for businesses to display.
To learn more about minimum wage, visit labor.mo.gov/DLS/MinimumWage.
Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2019 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
Some state laws provide greater employee protections than federal law, and Missouri's minimum wage rules include provisions that go beyond the federal baseline. For 2019, Missouri's minimum wage is $8.60 per hour, which is higher than the federal minimum wage. When a state rate exceeds the federal rate, employees in that state are entitled to the higher amount. The state press release notes that Missouri law does not allow the state's minimum wage rate to be lower than the federal minimum wage rate, ensuring that workers always receive at least the federal floor. Employers must comply with whichever rate is higher - state or federal. In Missouri, the state rate of $8.60 applies to most private employers, while the federal rate would only apply if it were higher or if the employer fell outside state coverage but remained subject to federal law.
Missouri law does not apply to public employers, nor does it allow the state’s minimum wage rate to be lower than the federal minimum wage rate.
Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2019 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Missouri law requires that tips, meals, and lodging may count toward meeting the minimum wage obligation. The 2019 minimum wage in Missouri is $8.60 per hour, and for tipped employees, employers must pay at least half of that amount in direct wages, with tips making up the difference to reach $8.60 total. If an employer provides meals or lodging, the reasonable cost or fair value of those benefits can be credited toward the minimum wage, but only if the employee actually receives them. This means the cash wage an employer pays can be lower than $8.60 per hour, as long as the combination of cash wages, tips, and the value of meals or lodging equals at least $8.60 for every hour worked. Employers must keep records showing how they calculate these credits. Workers who receive tips or in-kind compensation should review their pay stubs to ensure they are receiving at least the full minimum wage when all credits are properly calculated.
Compensation for tipped employees must also total at least $8.60 per hour.
Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2019 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
When a state's minimum wage is lower than the federal rate, with some limited exceptions, the federal minimum wage rate applies instead. Missouri's law addresses this scenario directly: the state law does not allow Missouri's minimum wage rate to be lower than the federal minimum wage rate. This means that if the federal rate were ever higher than Missouri's state rate, employers in Missouri would be required to pay the federal amount. For 2019, Missouri's rate of $8.60 is higher than the federal minimum wage, so the state rate applies to most private employers. However, the principle remains important: workers in Missouri are always guaranteed at least the higher of the two rates. The state law also does not apply to public employers, meaning government workers may be subject to different wage rules depending on their specific employment situation.
Missouri law does not apply to public employers, nor does it allow the state’s minimum wage rate to be lower than the federal minimum wage rate.
Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2019 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Missouri voters approved Proposition B on November 6, 2018, which locks in a cost-of-living adjustment to the minimum wage based on the CPI-W. Under this rule, the state's minimum wage will increase by 85 cents per hour each year through 2023. For someone working in Missouri, this means the hourly floor on their paycheck is not fixed forever — it rises on a schedule set by the ballot measure. The 2019 rate of $8.60 was the first step under that schedule. Employers across Missouri must track the annual increase and adjust pay no later than the effective date each year. After 2023, the adjustment continues to follow changes in the consumer price index rather than a flat 85-cent bump. Workers do not need to negotiate the raise; it takes effect automatically across private employers covered by state law.
Pursuant to Proposition B, which was approved by Missouri voters November 6, 2018, the minimum wage will increase 85 cents per hour each year through 2023.
Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2019 (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.
Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2019 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
- Hourly
The Missouri Department of Labor announces the state minimum wage rate for 2019 has been established, according to state law, at $8.60, effective January 1, 2019.
Other years
Every Missouri Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state