Article provided by our partners at WFJ Law Firm and The Compliance Center
As of January 1, 2026, Minnesota increased its minimum wage from $11.13 per hour to $11.41 per hour. Minnesota also increased the 90-day training wage for employees under the age of 20 from $8.85 per hour to $9.31 per hour. These adjustments were made to account for inflation, and they apply to all employees working in Minnesota except those working in Minneapolis or St. Paul, which have higher minimum wage laws. The minimum wage law applies to all hours worked, regardless of whether an employee is full-time or part-time and regardless of their method of compensation. Employers cannot count tips toward meeting minimum wage requirements, which means employees who receive tips must be paid at least the full minimum wage per hour in addition to any tips they earn.
In Minneapolis, the minimum wage increased from $15.97 per hour to $16.37 per hour as of January 1, 2026. The new minimum wage applies to all employees working in Minneapolis regardless of an employer’s size.
St. Paul also increased its minimum wage requirements based on an employer’s size. The city has a scheduled minimum wage increase for employers with five or fewer employees to $14.25 per hour on July 1, 2026; the current rate for these employers is $13.25 per hour. The minimum wage for employers with 6–100 employees increases from $15.00 per hour to $16.37 per hour also on July 1, 2026. The minimum wage for employers with at least 101 employees increased from $15.97 per hour to $16.37 per hour on January 1, 2026.
Employers are required to update their minimum wage posters to reflect the new rates. These posters must be displayed in a conspicuous location where they are easily accessible to all employees. Employers also are required to provide employees with written notice of any change to their rate of pay before the change takes effect.
Please contact the Compliance Center if you have any questions or need assistance.