St. Paul minimum wage
Minimum wage in St. Paul, Minnesota, in effect since January 1, 2026
$16.37 an hour
St. Paul sets its own minimum wage, $4.96 above the Minnesota rate of $11.41. Employers in St. Paul pay the higher local rate.
The rate differs by employer type; see the table below.
Next increase: none announced as of October 9, 2026. Rates marked "City Rate" rise by the Minnesota DLI inflation percentage under Minn. Stat. 177.24 subd. 1(f), rounded to the nearest cent (macro/large each January 1; small from July 1, 2027).
Rates by employer
| Employer or category | Hourly minimum | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Macro businesses (10,001 or more employees) and the City of Saint Paul | $16.37 | $16.37 |
| Large businesses (101 to 10,000 employees) | $16.37 | $16.37 |
| Small businesses (6 to 100 employees) Since 2026-07-01 (was $15.00). | $16.37 | $16.37 |
| Micro businesses (5 or fewer employees) Since 2026-07-01 (was $13.25); rises to $15.00 on 2027-07-01. | $14.25 | $14.25 |
Tipped employees
St. Paul doesn't allow a tip credit. Tipped employees must get the full $16.37 an hour from the employer, and tips are on top.
Youth and training wages
Workers aged 14 to 17 may be paid 85% of the small-employer rate (rounded up to the nearest nickel) for 90 days after hire: $13.95 since July 1, 2026. Youth under 20 in a city-approved training or apprenticeship program: 85% of the small-employer rate.
How future increases are set
Rates marked "City Rate" rise by the Minnesota DLI inflation percentage under Minn. Stat. 177.24 subd. 1(f), rounded to the nearest cent (macro/large each January 1; small from July 1, 2027).
Exceptions and details
- 2027 GAP: the city announced its 2027 rates (page edited August 31, 2026), but the table shows "City Rate*" with no dollar figure for macro, large and small businesses on January 1, 2027 (small: July 1, 2027).
- Micro businesses: $15.00 on July 1, 2027 (fixed in the city table).
- Tips and employer payments toward medical benefits are not counted as wages.
Other local minimum wages in Minnesota
- Minneapolis $16.37
Running payroll in St. Paul?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- City of Saint Paul Department of Human Rights & Equal Economic Opportunity (Labor Standards Enforcement and Education) · data as of July 1, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.