2023 Missouri Minimum Wage
The 2023 Missouri Minimum Wage is $12.
Effective 2023-01-01Source: Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2023 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)Verified 2026-08-30
Compared with 2022
| Item | 2022 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $11.15 | $12 | +$0.85 (+7.6%) |
Who it applies to
Private employers in Missouri, with an exemption for certain small retail and service businesses. Public employers are not covered.
What changed this year, and why
Missouri's minimum wage for private employers increased to $12.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2023, up from $11.15 per hour in 2022.
Common questions
- Which employers must pay the Missouri minimum wage?
- All private employers must pay at least the state minimum wage, except certain small retail and service businesses. Public employers are not covered.
- How does the minimum wage apply to tipped employees?
- Employers must pay tipped employees at least half the minimum wage, plus any additional amount needed so that total compensation reaches the full minimum wage.
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Workers in Missouri with questions about the minimum wage or who need to file a wage complaint should contact the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The department provides information about wage requirements and accepts complaints from employees who believe they are not being paid correctly. The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations can be reached at 573-751-4091 or by email at communications2@labor.mo.gov. Additional resources, including the updated minimum wage poster and other required workplace notices, are available online at labor.mo.gov/DLS/MinimumWage. Employees who believe their employer is paying below the legal minimum wage or otherwise violating state wage laws should consult the relevant state labor office to understand their rights and the complaint process. The department maintains information about current rates, employer obligations, and worker protections under Missouri law.
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations 573-751-4091 communications2@labor.mo.gov
Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2023 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
Missouri's minimum wage law works alongside federal minimum wage requirements to ensure workers receive adequate compensation. When both state and federal laws apply, employers must pay the higher of the two rates. Missouri's law specifically states that the state minimum wage rate cannot be lower than the federal minimum wage rate. This means that if the federal rate were to increase above Missouri's $12 per hour, employers would be required to pay the higher federal amount. Conversely, if Missouri's rate exceeds the federal rate, the state rate controls. For Missouri workers, this dual protection ensures they always receive at least the higher of the two applicable rates. The state's minimum wage law does not apply to public employers, but private sector workers benefit from whichever standard provides greater compensation. Employers must monitor both state and federal requirements to maintain compliance with the rate that offers the most protection to employees.
Missouri's minimum wage 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 2023 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Missouri allows employers to count tips toward meeting the minimum wage for tipped employees. Employers must pay tipped employees at least 50 percent of the minimum wage as a direct cash wage, plus any additional amount needed to bring total compensation to $12.00 per hour. This means a Missouri employer can pay a tipped worker a base cash wage that is less than the full minimum, as long as the employee's tips make up the difference so that total earnings reach at least $12.00 per hour. If a tipped employee's tips combined with the employer's cash wage fall short of $12.00 per hour, the employer must pay the difference. For Missouri workers in restaurants, bars, and other tip-based industries, this system allows employers to use a lower base wage while still ensuring total compensation meets the state minimum. Tipped employees should monitor their earnings each pay period to confirm their total compensation meets the $12.00 per hour requirement.
Employers are required to pay tipped employees at least 50 percent of the minimum wage, plus any amount necessary to bring the employee’s total compensation to a minimum of $12.00 per hour.
Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2023 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
Missouri law establishes that the state minimum wage cannot fall below the federal minimum wage rate. This means that even if Missouri's own rate were set lower than the federal standard, employers would still be required to pay at least the federal minimum wage. The state's minimum wage law does not allow Missouri's rate to be lower than the federal floor. For Missouri workers, this provides a safety net ensuring they always receive at least the federal minimum wage, even if state legislation were to reduce the state rate. Currently, Missouri's rate of $12 per hour exceeds the federal minimum wage, so the state rate controls. However, if the federal rate were to increase in the future and surpass Missouri's rate, employers would be obligated to pay the higher federal amount. This dual protection ensures that Missouri employees benefit from whichever standard is more generous. The law prevents the state from establishing a rate that would provide less protection than federal law requires.
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 2023 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Missouri's minimum wage rate is adjusted annually through a cost-of-living mechanism established by Proposition B, which Missouri voters approved in 2018. Under this law, the minimum wage increases by 85 cents per hour each year through 2023. This automatic adjustment ensures that the minimum wage keeps pace with inflation without requiring new legislation each year. The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announces the updated rate, as it did in December 2022 when it established the 2023 rate. For Missouri workers, this means the minimum wage is not a fixed amount but rather a rate that grows over time to reflect changing economic conditions. The annual increase continues through 2023, after which the adjustment mechanism may change. Employers and employees should monitor the department's announcements each year to know the current rate. This cost-of-living adjustment protects workers' purchasing power by ensuring the minimum wage does not remain static while the cost of living rises.
Pursuant to Proposition B, which was approved by Missouri voters on November 6, 2018, the minimum wage will increase 85 cents per hour each year through 2023.
Minimum Wage Rate Set for Private Employers for 2023 (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 2023 (Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)
- Hourly
announces the state minimum wage rate for 2023 has been established, according to state law, at $12.00 per hour
Other years
Every Missouri Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state