The minimum wage in Missouri is $15.00 an hour as of October 2026, in effect since 1 January 2026. Tipped employees must be paid at least 50% of that, $7.50 an hour, plus whatever it takes to bring their total pay to $15.00.
I've taken this from the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the current text of the Missouri statute, section 290.502, and the U.S. Department of Labor's tables, all read in October 2026. The thing people get wrong about Missouri is what happens after 2026, so that's in its own section below.
Missouri pay rates for 2026
| Worker | Hourly rate (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Most employees | $15.00 |
| Tipped employees, minimum cash wage | $7.50 |
| Maximum tip credit | 50% of the minimum wage, $7.50 |
| Retail or service businesses with gross annual sales under $500,000 | Exempt from the state rate |
The state labor department is clear that employers whose retail or service business has annual gross income below $500,000 aren't required to pay the state rate. That doesn't free them from the federal law, though. If the federal Fair Labor Standards Act covers the job, the employer still owes at least the federal minimum.
What the statute says after 2026
Here's the part many guides haven't caught up with. Some still say Missouri's rate will rise with inflation each year after 2026. The current statute text doesn't carry yearly increases. Section 290.502 now sets $13.75 from 1 January 2025, a $1.25 rise to $15.00 from 1 January 2026, and says the federal rate applies if it's ever higher. The section's history lists a 2025 amendment, H.B. 567.
So, on the law as it reads in October 2026, there's no scheduled Missouri increase for 2027. If that changes, the state labor department will publish the new rate, and I'll update this page.
Public employers are now covered
Another change in the current statute: from 28 August 2025, the minimum wage section applies to public employers too. That means the state, its departments and agencies, and cities, counties, towns, villages and school districts. If you work for a Missouri school district or city, the $15.00 rate covers you.
Federal law still sits on top
The Missouri labor department warns employers about a trap. Most employers are subject to both the state minimum wage law and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Some Missouri provisions are less restrictive than the federal ones, and an employer covered by the federal law who only follows the less restrictive Missouri rule is breaking federal law. The department points to 29 U.S.C. 218(a) for this. In plain terms: where the two laws differ, follow whichever protects the worker more.
That's also why the $500,000 small business exemption is narrower than it looks. A small shop that's outside the state law can still be inside the federal one, and the department tells employers not covered by the state law to contact the U.S. Department of Labor for their rules.
Tipped pay in practice
- Pay at least $7.50 an hour in cash wages.
- Add up cash wage plus tips for the pay period.
- If the total falls below $15.00 an hour, pay the difference.
- Keep records of tips reported by each employee.
- Post the state's minimum wage summary where staff can see it, as section 290.522 requires.
If your staff share tips, my tip pooling guide covers who can be in the pool under federal rules.
Posters and complaints
Every employer covered by the law must post a summary of the law and regulations, under section 290.522 of the Missouri statutes. The Division of Labor Standards has written a summary employers can print, and there's a Spanish version too. Put it somewhere staff can see it. Workers who think they're being underpaid can file a minimum wage complaint with the department.
Overtime in Missouri
Overtime is due after 40 hours a week. The U.S. Department of Labor's table adds a Missouri exception: seasonal amusement or recreation businesses only owe premium pay after 52 hours. My overtime laws guide covers who's exempt.
Missouri's rate history
| Year (1 January) | Missouri rate |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $9.45 |
| 2021 | $10.30 |
| 2022 | $11.15 |
| 2023 | $12.00 |
| 2024 | $12.30 |
| 2025 | $13.75 |
| 2026 (as of October 2026) | $15.00 |
The 2020 to 2024 rates are from the U.S. Department of Labor's history table, and 2025 and 2026 from the statute.
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Missouri compared with its neighbours
| State | Minimum wage (as of October 2026) | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $15.00 | $7.50 |
| Illinois | $15.00 | $9.00 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $2.13 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $2.63 |
| Iowa | $7.25 | $4.35 |
| Kansas | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| Tennessee | No state law, federal $7.25 | $2.13 |
Kansas City and St. Louis businesses compete for staff with Kansas and Illinois. On the Kansas side the floor is the federal $7.25, while Illinois matches Missouri at $15.00 but pays tipped staff more in cash. My Illinois minimum wage guide has the detail.
My verdict
Missouri is a $15.00 state with a $7.50 tipped cash wage, and on the statute as it reads today that's where it stops. Don't build a 2027 budget around an inflation rise that's no longer in the law. And if you're a small retailer under $500,000, check the federal rules before you assume you're exempt from paying minimum wage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Missouri?
It's $15.00 an hour as of October 2026, in effect since 1 January 2026.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Missouri?
Tipped employees must get at least $7.50 an hour in cash, and total pay with tips must reach $15.00.
Will Missouri's minimum wage go up in 2027?
The statute text checked in October 2026 sets $15.00 from 2026 and contains no annual increase after that.
Are small businesses exempt from Missouri's minimum wage?
Retail or service businesses with gross annual sales under $500,000 are exempt from the state rate, but federal law may still apply.
Does Missouri's minimum wage apply to public employers?
Yes. From 28 August 2025 the statute applies to the state, counties, cities and school districts.
When is overtime due in Missouri?
After 40 hours a week, or after 52 hours in seasonal amusement or recreation businesses.
Do Missouri employers have to display a minimum wage poster?
Yes. Section 290.522 requires covered employers to post a summary of the law, and the state provides one in English and Spanish.
