Montana tipped minimum wage
In effect since January 1, 2026
$10.85 an hour, before tips
Montana doesn't allow employers to count tips toward the minimum wage. Tipped employees get the full minimum wage from the employer, and tips are on top.
Next change: on January 1, 2027 the minimum wage becomes $11.20.
Minimum wage
$10.85
Tipped cash wage
$10.85
Max tip credit
None
Federal cash wage
$2.13
with $5.12 credit
Tipped rates by category
| Category | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses with gross annual sales over $110,000 (or employees covered by the FLSA) | $10.85 | $10.85 |
| Businesses not covered by the FLSA with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less An employee producing or moving goods between states, or otherwise covered by the FLSA, must get the higher of the federal or Montana rate. | $4.00 | $4.00 |
Rules that apply everywhere
- The employer must tell tipped employees about the tip credit before taking it, under federal rules.
- Tips belong to the employee. Managers and supervisors can't share in a tip pool.
- If tips and cash wages fall short of the minimum in a workweek, the employer pays the difference.
Federal tip rules: DOL Fact Sheet #15.
Running payroll in Montana?
Sources
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Employment Standards Division · data as of January 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.