Minimum Wage in the State of Missouri 2026
Last updated: · Source: Missouri Department of Labor
Missouri · Minimum Wage 2026
Effective 2026-01-01
Data last verified: 2026-07-09
Tipped Rate
$7.50/hr
Tip Credit
$7.50/hr
Exempt Salary
$684/wk
Effective Date
2026-01-01
Missouri Wage Calculator
Minimum Wage in the State of Missouri
The minimum wage in Missouri is $15.00 per hour in 2026, effective 2026-01-01. This is above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers must pay the higher of the two rates, so the Missouri rate applies. Also searched as minimum wage in the state of Missouri. See the federal minimum wage page for how the FLSA floor applies nationwide.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay the highest minimum wage that legally applies to a work location, whether set federally, by the state, or by a city or county ordinance.
Missouri Tipped Minimum Wage
In Missouri, tipped employees may be paid a direct cash wage of $7.50/hr. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $7.50/hr, but the employee's total hourly earnings (direct wages + tips) must equal at least the full minimum wage of $15.00/hr. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
| Component | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cash wage | $7.50/hr | Minimum employer must pay directly |
| Tip credit | $7.50/hr | Maximum credit employer may claim |
| Total required | $15.00/hr | Wages + tips must reach this floor |
Missouri Exempt Employee Salary Threshold (2026)
An "exempt" employee is a salaried worker who, by law, isn't entitled to overtime pay (time-and-a-half) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Whether a salaried employee actually qualifies as exempt depends on both their pay and their job duties. Missouri follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. To qualify for the white-collar (executive, administrative, or professional) overtime exemption, salaried employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) in 2026.
City & County Minimum Wages in Missouri
Missouri law (RSMo Section 285.055, enacted 2017) prohibits cities and counties from setting a minimum wage higher than the state rate, nullifying prior St. Louis and Kansas City local minimum wage ordinances.
| City / County | 2026 Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Missouri's $15.00 state minimum wage; the city's 2015 local ordinance was nullified by the state's 2017 preemption law. |
| Kansas City | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Missouri's $15.00 state minimum wage; a 2015 local ordinance never took effect due to the state's preemption law. |
| Springfield | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Missouri's $15.00 state minimum wage; no local ordinance. |
| Columbia | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Missouri's $15.00 state minimum wage; no local ordinance. |
Missouri Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in Missouri over the past several years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $15.00/hr | 2026-01-01 | |
| 2025 | $13.75/hr | 2025-01-01 | |
| 2020 | $9.45/hr | 2020-01-01 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in Missouri is $15.00 per hour in 2026, effective 2026-01-01. Tipped employees may be paid $7.50 per hour provided tips bring total earnings to at least $15.00/hr.
Missouri's minimum wage rose from $13.75 to $15.00/hr effective January 1, 2026. A 2025 law (HB 567) eliminated future automatic CPI-based adjustments, so $15.00 will remain the rate unless new legislation is passed.
In Missouri, tipped employees must be paid at least $7.50 per hour directly. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $7.50/hr, but total compensation including tips must reach $15.00/hr.
Missouri follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. Salaried exempt employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) to qualify for the white-collar overtime exemption in 2026.
Missouri law (RSMo Section 285.055, enacted 2017) prohibits cities and counties from setting a minimum wage higher than the state rate, nullifying prior St. Louis and Kansas City local minimum wage ordinances.
The minimum wage in the state of Missouri is $15.00 per hour in 2026.