At a glance
- Minimum wage: $11.41 an hour, rising to $11.87 on January 1, 2027.
- Tipped cash wage: $11.41 (no tip credit).
- Overtime: after 40 hours in a workweek.
- Final paycheck if fired: within 24 hours of the employee's written demand.
- Paid sick leave: Yes. Paid family leave program: Yes.
What Minnesota employers need to know
Minnesota's minimum wage looks modest at $11.41, but nearly every other rule here is employee-friendly. There's no tip credit, paid sick and safe time covers every employer, a state paid family and medical leave program started in 2026, and break rules were strengthened in 2024. Minneapolis and St. Paul set much higher local minimum wages, so employers in the Twin Cities pay well above the state rate.
Minnesota minimum wage
| Minimum wage | $11.41 |
|---|---|
| Tipped cash wage | $11.41 (no tip credit) |
| Next change | $11.87 on January 1, 2027 |
| Local rates | Minneapolis and St. Paul set local minimum wages well above the state rate. |
Pay the highest rate that applies where the employee works: federal, state, or local. For comparison, neighboring states pay North Dakota ($7.25), South Dakota ($11.85), Iowa ($7.25), Wisconsin ($7.25). See every state side by side in our minimum wage by state table, and convert between hourly and annual pay with the salary to hourly calculator.
Minnesota overtime rules
The federal 40-hour rule applies to most employers. Minnesota's own law requires overtime after 48 hours in a week for employers not covered by the FLSA.
Exempt salary test: the federal minimum of $684 a week ($35,568 a year) applies. Duties tests apply too, so job titles alone don't make someone exempt.
Work out overtime owed with our overtime calculator, compare states in overtime laws by state, and check classification with our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees.
Minnesota meal and rest break laws
Meal breaks: Employees working 6 or more consecutive hours must get enough time to eat a meal. It can be unpaid if it's 20 minutes or longer and the employee is relieved of duty.
Rest breaks: A paid rest break of 15 minutes, or enough time to use the nearest restroom, whichever is longer, within each 4 consecutive hours of work.
Many states have stricter break rules for minors. Compare adult rules nationwide in break laws by state, and total up shifts with the time card calculator.
Minnesota final paycheck law
| If you fire or lay off the employee | Within 24 hours of the employee's written demand. |
|---|---|
| If the employee quits | By the next regular payday, or the following payday if it falls within 5 days, and no more than 20 days after the last day. |
| Unused vacation or PTO | Not required by state law. Follow your written policy or contract, and apply it consistently. |
Build the deadline into your offboarding checklist. Our offboarding guide covers the full process, the PTO payout calculator works out the amount, and the final paycheck laws by state table compares every state.
Minnesota paid sick leave and family leave
Paid sick leave: Earned Sick and Safe Time: 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours a year, with a bank of up to 80 hours, for employers of every size.
Paid family and medical leave: Minnesota Paid Leave: benefits and premiums began January 1, 2026. Up to 12 weeks of family or medical leave (20 weeks combined), funded by a premium split between employer and employee.
Federal FMLA: employers with 50 or more employees within 75 miles must also give eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Read our FMLA guide, and compare states in paid leave laws by state.
Hiring, pay transparency, and payroll setup
Pay transparency: Required for employers with 30 or more employees since January 1, 2025: pay range and benefits in every posting.
New hire reporting: Report each new hire within 20 days of the hire date, the federal deadline.
State income tax withholding: Yes. Register with the state tax agency before the first payroll.
Our pay transparency laws guide explains posting rules in more depth, and our job description templates include pay data for 50 common roles.
What trips up Minnesota employers
- Minneapolis and St. Paul set much higher local minimum wages.
- Tipped employees must get the full minimum wage before tips.
- Rest breaks must be at least 15 minutes, or long enough to reach the restroom, every 4 hours.
- Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are due quarterly, starting with 2026 wages.
Sources and the agency to contact
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (state labor agency)
- US Department of Labor: state minimum wage laws
- US Department of Labor: minimum wages for tipped employees by state
- US Department of Labor: state meal period requirements
General information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and have exceptions by industry, employer size, and city. Confirm current rules with the state agency or employment counsel before you rely on them.
Cite or share this data
Journalists, educators, payroll providers, and HR teams are welcome to quote these figures. Please credit HRTally with a link to this page. Copy the snippet below to add the link.
<a href="https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/minnesota/">Minnesota labor laws for employers (2026)</a> (source: HRTally)
Suggested citation: HRTally Research Team. "Minnesota labor laws for employers (2026)." HRTally, updated October 20, 2026. https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/minnesota/
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Minnesota in 2026?
When is a final paycheck due in Minnesota?
Are breaks required in Minnesota?
Does Minnesota require paid sick leave?
Do employers have to pay out unused PTO in Minnesota?
Written by the HRTally Research Team
Our guides are written and reviewed by people with hands-on US HR, payroll, and HR technology experience. Legal and tax facts are checked against primary sources, such as the Department of Labor, IRS, EEOC, and USCIS, and linked at the end of each guide. Vendors never review or pay for our editorial content.