Minimum wage rate
This law sets the minimum amount employers in Missouri must pay workers per hour. Starting in 2025, the rate is $13.75 per hour, going up to $15.00 per hour in 2026. If the federal minimum wage goes higher than Missouri's rate, employers must pay the higher federal amount instead. Before 2025, the rate changed each year based on the cost of living. Starting in August 2025, government employers like state agencies, cities, and school districts also have to follow these rules.
290.502. Minimum wage rate — increase or decrease, when. — 1. Except as may be otherwise provided sections 290.500 to 290.530, effective January 1, 2007, every employer shall pay to each employee wages at the rate of $6.50 per hour, or wages at the same rate or rates set under the of federal law as the applicable to those covered jobs in , whichever rate per hour is higher.
2. The minimum wage shall be increased or decreased on January 1, 2008, and on January 1 of successive years but ending December 31, 2024, by the increase or decrease in the cost of living. On September 30, 2007, and on each September 30 of each successive year but ending December 31, 2024, the shall measure the increase or decrease in the cost of living by the percentage increase or decrease as of the preceding July over the level as of July of the immediately preceding year of the for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) or index as published by the U.S. of Labor or its successor agency, with the amount of the minimum wage increase or decrease rounded to the nearest five cents.
3. Except as may be otherwise provided pursuant to sections 290.500 to 290.530, and 1 of this section, effective January 1, 2025, every employer shall pay to each employee wages at the rate of not less than $13.75 per hour, or wages at the same rate or rates set under the provisions of federal law as the applicable to those covered jobs in interstate commerce, whichever rate per hour is higher. Thereafter, the minimum wage established by this subsection shall be increased by $1.25 per hour, to $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. If at any time the federal minimum wage rate is above or is thereafter increased above the minimum wage then in effect under this subsection, the higher federal rate shall immediately become the minimum wage required by this subsection.
4. For purposes of this section, the term "public employer" means an employer that is the state or a of the state, including a department, agency, officer, bureau, , , , or of the state, or a city, county, town, village, school , or other political subdivision of the state. Beginning on August 28, 2025, the provisions of this section shall apply to a public employer with respect to its employees.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1990 H.B. 1881 § 2, A.L. 2006 Amended by Initiative, Proposition B, November 7, 2006, A.L. 2018 Amended by Initiative, Proposition B, November 6, 2018, A.L. 2024 Amended by Initiative, Proposition A, November 5, 2024, A.L. 2025 H.B. 567, et al.)
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