Minneapolis minimum wage 2026

What to know about the Minneapolis minimum wage

Minneapolis adopted its Municipal Minimum Wage Ordinance in 2017, and it began phasing in on January 1, 2018 on two schedules, one for large employers and a slower one for small employers. The schedules met on July 1, 2024; since then every employer has paid the same rate.⁠¹ That rate was $15.97 from January 1, 2025 and $16.37 from January 1, 2026.⁠³

The gap with the rest of Minnesota is large. The state minimum wage is $11.41 from January 1, 2026 and $11.87 from January 1, 2027,⁠⁵ while Minneapolis has posted $17.02 from January 1, 2027; city increases are capped at 5% a year.⁠¹ Saint Paul's rate for its largest employers is also set to $17.02 on January 1, 2027.⁠⁶

The test for coverage is two hours of work in the city in a Monday-to-Sunday week. Someone employed by a suburban business who spends that much time working in Minneapolis is owed the city rate for those hours, regardless of the employer's size or the worker's age. Tips cannot be credited toward the wage. The one exception is a city-approved training or apprenticeship program for workers under 20, who may be paid 85% of the rate for their first 90 days.⁠¹⁠²

The Labor Standards Enforcement Division of the Department of Civil Rights enforces the ordinance and takes reports through 311, an online form or in person at City Hall.⁠⁴

All 2026 rates

Compared with Minnesota

When a local minimum wage, the state minimum wage and the federal minimum wage differ, the employer must pay the highest one that applies to the work. For most covered work in Minneapolis, that is the local rate.

Tipped employees

Employers may not directly or indirectly count tips or gratuities toward the Minneapolis minimum, so tipped workers are owed the full rate before tips.

How the rate changes

The rate rises every January 1 for inflation, with the increase capped at 5%. Separate schedules for large and small employers ended on July 1, 2024, when small employers reached the large-employer rate.

Rate history

Who is covered

Any employee who works at least two hours in a calendar week (Monday to Sunday) within Minneapolis is covered for the time worked in the city, whatever the employer's location or size and the employee's age. Part-time, seasonal, temporary and jointly employed workers are included.

• Employers must display the Minneapolis Labor Standards poster in the languages their employees need and give it to new hires along with the wage theft and sick and safe time notices.
• Violations can be reported through 311, an online form, by email to [email protected], or in person at City Hall, Room 239.

Other local rates in Minnesota

• Saint Paul$16.37

Everywhere else in Minnesota, the state rate applies.

Get help or file a claim

If you are paid less than the minimum wage that applies to your job, you can file a wage claim with the agency below. Federal law prohibits firing or otherwise retaliating against a worker for complaining about federal minimum wage rights.

Sources

1. 1
   City of Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights, Minneapolis Minimum Wage (city minimum wage site) Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
2. 2
   City of Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights, Employer Resources - Minneapolis Minimum Wage Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
3. 3
   City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis minimum wage increases to $16.37 for all employers (December 2025) Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
4. 4
   City of Minneapolis, Minimum Wage (Labor Standards Enforcement contact) Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
5. 5
   Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Minimum wage in Minnesota Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
6. 6
   City of Saint Paul, Announcing City of Saint Paul Minimum Wage Rates for 2027 Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑

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