Missouri Minimum Wage Calculator 2026

Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, more than double the $7.25 federal floor that still governs in states without their own higher standard. Voters approved the increase through a ballot measure, and the rate is enforced by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Most private employers must pay it, though the law carves out some exemptions, including certain small retail and service businesses below a sales threshold and some agricultural work.

Tipped workers have a different baseline: employers may pay a cash wage of $7.50 an hour, half the full minimum, and claim a tip credit for the rest. The catch is that tips must bring the worker up to at least $15.00 per hour over the pay period; if they fall short, the employer must make up the difference. A handful of local governments and certain employer types may set or face higher pay floors, so the citywide standard can exceed the statewide one, but it can never drop below it.