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Minnesota Minimum Wage 2026 and the 2027 Rate

Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour for every employer in 2026, and it rises with inflation each January. On January 1, 2027, it goes to $11.87.

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Minnesota Minimum Wage in 2026

Minnesota’s minimum wage is $11.41 an hour in 2026, and it applies to every employer in the state, large or small. That is $4.16 above the federal minimum of $7.25 (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry).

Key facts

  • The rate rises to $11.87 on January 1, 2027, a 3.99% inflation adjustment.
  • Employers cannot count tips toward the minimum wage in Minnesota.
  • Workers under 20 can be paid a training wage of $9.31 for their first 90 days.
  • Minneapolis and St. Paul have their own minimum wage ordinances that can require more.
$11.41
Minnesota minimum wage, 2026
$11.87
Minnesota minimum wage from January 1, 2027
$23,733
A full-time year at the 2026 rate, before taxes

At 2,080 hours a year, the 2026 rate pays $23,733 before taxes, $8,653 more than a full-time year at the federal minimum.

The Minnesota Minimum Wage in 2027

On August 19, 2026, the Department of Labor and Industry announced that the minimum wage will rise to $11.87 an hour on January 1, 2027, an increase of $0.46. The training wage for workers under 20 rises to $9.68. A full-time year at the 2027 rate pays $24,690 before taxes (DLI).

How Minnesota’s Minimum Wage Rises Each Year

State law ties the minimum wage to inflation, so it changes every January 1 without a new vote. By August 31 each year, the labor commissioner measures inflation over the prior 12 months, and the wage rises by that amount or by 5%, whichever is lower. The law says the rate can never go down (Minn. Stat. 177.24).

Minnesota minimum wage rates

RateFrom January 1, 2026From January 1, 2027
State minimum wage, all employers$11.41$11.87
Training wage, under 20, first 90 days$9.31$9.68
Federal minimum wage$7.25$7.25

Source: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, minimum wage rates

Our national minimum wage guide compares Minnesota with every other state.

Tipped Workers in Minnesota

Tipped workers in Minnesota earn the full $11.41 before tips. State law says no employer may “directly or indirectly credit, apply, or utilize gratuities” toward the minimum wage, so a server’s tips are on top of the hourly rate (Minn. Stat. 177.24, subd. 2).

The Minnesota Training Wage for Workers Under 20

An employer may pay a worker under 20 a training wage of $9.31 an hour for the first 90 consecutive days of the job. The law bars an employer from cutting another employee’s hours or pay to hire someone at the training wage (Minn. Stat. 177.24, subd. 1(b); DLI).

Minnesota Wage Rules by Situation

  1. The minimum is $11.41 an hour for every Minnesota employer in 2026.
  2. Keep your pay stubs and a record of your hours.
  3. Contact the Department of Labor and Industry's Labor Standards office.
  1. Your employer must pay you at least $11.41 an hour before tips.
  2. Tips cannot count toward the minimum wage in Minnesota.
  1. Both cities have their own minimum wage ordinances that may require a higher rate.
  2. Check the city's labor standards office for the current local rate.
  1. Your employer may pay $9.31 an hour for your first 90 days.
  2. After that, you are owed the full $11.41.

Minnesota Minimum Wage Questions

What is the minimum wage in Minnesota in 2026?

$11.41 an hour for every employer in the state, large or small. Minneapolis and St. Paul have their own ordinances that may require more.

What will Minnesota's minimum wage be in 2027?

$11.87 an hour starting January 1, 2027, a 3.99% inflation adjustment. The training wage for workers under 20 rises to $9.68.

Is there a tipped minimum wage in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota bars employers from counting tips toward the minimum wage, so tipped workers earn the full $11.41 an hour before tips.

How does Minnesota's minimum wage go up each year?

State law ties it to inflation. Each January 1 the wage rises by the past year’s inflation or 5%, whichever is lower, and the law says it can never go down.

What You Can Do

  1. Check your pay stub against the $11.41 rate now and the $11.87 rate from January 1, 2027.
  2. Report unpaid wages to the Department of Labor and Industry’s Labor Standards office.
  3. Ask the candidates for governor and the Legislature where they stand on the inflation adjustment; the Minnesota governor race guide lists the nominees.
  4. Find your state legislators with the Legislature’s district finder.