New 2025 minimum-wage report released



minnesota department of labor and industry


*For immediate release*







Dec. 17, 2025





New minimum-wage rates, changes to meal and rest break laws take effect Jan. 1, 2026

Minnesota's minimum-wage rate [ [link removed] ] will be adjusted for inflation Jan. 1, 2026, to $11.41 an hour for all employers in the state.

The 90-day training wage for workers under age 20 will increase to $9.31. These rates reflect a 2.5% increase.

The cities of Minneapolis [ [link removed] ] and St. Paul [ [link removed] ] have minimum-wage ordinances that require higher minimum-wage rates for work performed in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Minnesota law requires employers to display state-mandated posters [ [link removed] ] in a location where employees can easily see them. The posters are available at no cost and need to be updated only when Minnesota law changes.

Employee notice updates may be required

As part of Minnesota's employee notice requirement [ [link removed] ], employers are required to provide each employee with a written notice of any change before the change takes effect, including a change to the employee's rate of pay.

Changes to meal and rest break laws take effect Jan. 1, 2026

In addition to the updated minimum-wage rates, new requirements for Minnesota's meal and rest breaks law take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The updated law clarifies that employers must generally allow employees to take:


* A paid rest break that is at least 15 minutes for every four consecutive hours worked.
* An unpaid meal break that is at least 30 minutes when working six or more consecutive hours.

New FAQs are available to help employers and workers understand the updated requirements. Visit dli.mn.gov/breaks [ [link removed] ] for more information.

2025 Minnesota minimum-wage report released

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has released its 2025 Minnesota minimum-wage report.

Key findings

* *Minimum wages in 2025 dollars:*  Adjusting for inflation, the 2025 Minnesota minimum wage of $11.13 an hour is below the average rate of the federal minimum wage for 1960 through 1981, which was equivalent to $12.68 an hour in 2025 dollars. The 2025 Minneapolis minimum wage of $15.97 and the St. Paul small-employer minimum wage of $15 are higher, adjusting for inflation, than the $14.78 peak reached by the federal minimum wage in 1968.
* *Effective minimum wages for Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul:*  The Minnesota minimum wage -- $11.13 an hour for all employers in 2025 -- is indexed annually for inflation and will increase to $11.41 for all employers Jan. 1, 2026. The minimum wage for Minneapolis small employers is now equal to that of large employers. As of Jan. 1, 2025, the minimum wage for all employers in Minneapolis and for macro and large employers in St. Paul reached $15.97 and, indexed for inflation, will increase to $16.37 on Jan. 1, 2026. The minimum wage for small employers in St. Paul reached $15 on July 1, 2025, and will increase to $16.37 on July 1, 2026. The minimum wage for micro employers in St. Paul is $13.25 as of July 1, 2025; this rate will increase to $14.25 by July 2026 and $15 by July 2027 and be indexed for inflation thereafter.
* *Full-time annual earnings at the effective minimum wages:  *For workers earning the Minnesota minimum hourly wage and working 40 hours a week, annual wages in 2025 are $23,150 for all workers, except for workers under age 20 undergoing training in their first 90 days of employment. As of Jan. 1, 2025, workers at all Minneapolis employers and St. Paul macro and large employers earn annual full-time wages of $33,218, which will increase to $34,050 on Jan. 1, 2026. As of July 1, 2025, workers at St. Paul small employers earn $31,200, which will increase to $34,050 on July 1, 2026, and workers at St. Paul micro employers earn $27,560, which will increase to $29,640 on July 1, 2026.

View the full report [ [link removed] ].

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*Media contact:*  James Honerman at 651-284-5313 or [email protected].





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minnesota department of labor and industry [ [link removed] ]

*Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry  |  www.dli.mn.gov [ [link removed] ] *

651-284-5005 or 800-342-5354

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