Local wage guide
Minneapolis minimum wage 2026: $16.37 an hour
The minimum wage in Minneapolis is $16.37 an hour, in force since January 1, 2026. That is $4.96 above the Minnesota state minimum of $11.41 — $10,317 more over a full-time year. Full time at the Minneapolis rate is $655 a week gross and about $548 after tax.
Federal, state and city: the floor stack
All three apply at once, and the highest one wins. For work done in Minneapolis that is the city rate.
| Floor | Rate | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Federal minimum | $7.25 | Unchanged since July 24, 2009 |
| Minnesota minimum | $11.41 | In force since January 1, 2026 |
| Minneapolis minimum | $16.37 | In force since January 1, 2026 |
- Set by
- annual inflation indexing under the Minneapolis minimum wage ordinance
- Tipped cash wage
- No tip credit; tipped staff get the full $16.37
- Who it covers
- Every employer in the city, regardless of business size, and every employee regardless of age.
- Above the state rate by
- $4.96 an hour, $10,317 a year full time
- State income tax
- Progressive brackets
- Overtime
- 1.5x past 40 hours a week under the federal FLSA
Minneapolis retired its separate small-business rate, so one figure now covers the whole city. Minnesota bans the tip credit statewide, so tips cannot be counted towards the $16.37.
A Minneapolis minimum-wage paycheck after taxes
$16.37 an hour, single filer, 2026 federal and Minnesota rates, no benefits deducted.
| Hours/week | Weekly gross | Weekly net | Biweekly net | Annual net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $327 | $298 | $597 | $15,519 |
| 30 | $491 | $424 | $849 | $22,073 |
| 40 | $655 | $548 | $1,097 | $28,517 |
Full time at $16.37 is $34,050 gross a year, about $2,376 a month net and $28,517 a year net, an effective tax rate of 16.2%. Run your own hours through the Minneapolis paycheck calculator.
Why Minneapolis is above the Minnesota rate
Minneapolis's floor is set by annual inflation indexing under the Minneapolis minimum wage ordinance. A local minimum wage can only ever raise the floor: federal law sets a national minimum, Minnesota sets its own at $11.41, and a city ordinance or a regional rate stacks on top. Whichever number is highest for the place the work is done is the one your employer owes. That is why the answer to "what is the minimum wage" genuinely depends on which side of a city line you clock in on.
The rate is gross, and the tax on it is mostly FICA
$16.37 is what you are owed per hour before anything comes out. Social Security takes 6.2% and Medicare 1.45% from the very first dollar with no exempt amount underneath, while federal income tax only bites above the standard deduction. That is why a full-time year at $16.37 loses 16.2% overall rather than the bracket rate people expect. See minimum wage after taxes for the same figures in every state.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Minneapolis in 2026?+
$16.37 an hour, in force since January 1, 2026, set by annual inflation indexing under the Minneapolis minimum wage ordinance. That is $4.96 an hour above the Minnesota state minimum of $11.41 and $9.12 above the federal $7.25, which has not moved since July 24, 2009. Over a full-time year the gap over the state rate is worth $10,317 in gross pay. Every employer in the city, regardless of business size, and every employee regardless of age.
How much is a full-time minimum wage paycheck in Minneapolis after taxes?+
At $16.37 and 40 hours a week, gross pay is $655 a week, $2,837 a month and $34,050 a year. A single filer with no other deductions takes home about $548 a week, $1,097 every two weeks, $2,376 a month or $28,517 a year, an effective rate of 16.2% across federal income tax, Minnesota income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
Does the Minneapolis rate or the Minnesota rate apply to me?+
Whichever is higher, and for work performed in Minneapolis that is the Minneapolis rate of $16.37. A local wage floor can rise above the state and federal figures but never fall below them, so the three rates are a floor stack rather than alternatives. What decides it is where the work is physically done, not where your employer is headquartered or where you live. Every employer in the city, regardless of business size, and every employee regardless of age.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Minneapolis?+
There isn't one. Minneapolis pays tipped staff the full $16.37 in direct cash wages, and tips are on top rather than counted towards the floor. That means a tipped worker here is guaranteed $16.37 an hour before a single tip is added. Tips remain taxable wages reported through payroll, and for 2026 up to $25,000 of qualified tips is deductible on your federal return.
Is the Minneapolis minimum wage before or after tax?+
Before. $16.37 is a floor on gross pay, the figure your employer must pay for each hour worked with nothing withheld yet. Social Security takes 6.2% and Medicare 1.45% from the first dollar, and Minnesota income tax applies on top. On a full 40-hour week that turns $655 gross into about $548 net, a difference of $106.
What should I do if I am paid less than $16.37 in Minneapolis?+
Check the stub first: multiply hours worked by $16.37 and compare against gross pay for the period, before deductions, because the test is gross. Underpayment is a wage claim, and a local ordinance usually gives you a city enforcement office as well as the state labor office and the U.S. Department of Labor. Deductions for uniforms, tools or till shortages that push effective pay below the floor are generally not permitted.
Local rates
Cities that pay above their state minimum
| City | Local minimum | State minimum | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $21.30 | $17.13 | +4.17 |
| San Francisco | $19.61 | $16.90 | +2.71 |
| Denver | $19.29 | $15.16 | +4.13 |
| Los Angeles | $18.42 | $16.90 | +1.52 |
| Flagstaff | $18.35 | $15.15 | +3.20 |
| San Diego | $17.75 | $16.90 | +0.85 |
| Chicago | $17.05 | $15.00 | +2.05 |
| New York City | $17.00 | $16.00 | +1.00 |
| Portland | $16.80 | $15.55 | +1.25 |
| St. Paul | $16.37 | $11.41 | +4.96 |
| Tucson | $15.45 | $15.15 | +0.30 |
Every state's own floor is on the Minnesota minimum wage page and the 50-state comparison.
Sources
- City of Minneapolis, minimum wage increases to $16.37 for all employers
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, 2026 minimum wage rates
Rate current as of August 31, 2026.