The Missouri state minimum wage increased by 30 cents in January 2024, rising from $12.00 per hour in 2023 to $12.30 per hour in 2024. This represents a 2.5% increase from 2023 to 2024.
Employers in Missouri need to know the current minimum wage to ensure they are paying their employees according to the law and employees should make themselves aware of the Missouri minimum wage (2024) to make sure they are paid a fair wage per their worker’s rights.
Missouri joined 29 other states in 2013 when its minimum wage rose higher than the federal wage. If you would like more information on the current labor laws in Missouri we recommend that you visit the Missouri Department of Labor website.
Did the Missouri Minimum Wage Go Up?
The graphic below highlights the Missouri minimum wage over the past several years. The minimum wage did go up in 2024 from $12.00 per hour to $12.30 per hour.
If you are a full-time worker on minimum wage in Missouri, your earnings could be as follows:
- Daily Minimum Wage: $98.40 (based on an 8-hour working day).
- Weekly Minimum Wage: $492.00 (based on a 40-hour week).
- Yearly Minimum Wage: $25,584.00 (based on being paid 2080 hours per year).
You can view and download the Missouri minimum wage labor law poster for 2024 here at no charge. Employers must display an official poster outlining the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ensuring that accurate employee time and pay records are kept.
Missouri Minimum Wage Exemptions 2024
In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, there are a few Missouri state minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation.
Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.
Missouri Student Minimum Wage
The minimum wage for student employees in Missouri is 85% of the Missouri minimum wage, making their hourly pay $10.45 per hour in 2024.
This hourly rate is for any hours worked up to 20 hours per week. As a student employee, once you surpass 20 hours per week, you will be eligible for the Missouri minimum wage rate of $12.30 per hour.
Being a student can be financially challenging, leading many students to pick up part-time jobs to make extra money while studying. Despite a student minimum wage rate, many Missouri employers will not necessarily follow it and pay you equal to or more than the statewide minimum wage.
Many work-study programs are available at universities, which is a route many students go down. Still, coffee shop, cafe, bar, and restaurant jobs are commonly taken by students as they can work them into their class schedule.
Missouri Under 20 Minimum Wage
If you are under 20 years old in Missouri, federal law allows your employer to pay you as little as $4.25 per hour for your first 90 days of employment.
Once the 90-day period is over, you will be eligible to be paid the 2024 Missouri minimum wage of $12.30 per hour or potentially even more.
Fortunately for young workers, this is 90 calendar days and not 90 working days; therefore, it can be completed relatively quickly and within about three months.
Missouri Tipped Minimum Wage
If you are a tipped employee in Missouri (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $6.00 per hour, with a tip credit of $6.00 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.
Missouri Overtime Minimum Wage
Once you work over 40 hours a week, you are eligible to be paid an overtime rate of 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour you work past 40.
So, the overtime minimum wage in Missouri is $18.45 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $12.30 per hour.
Missouri Minimum Wage History
The table below shows the current rate and history of Missouri’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983.
You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Increase ($) | Increase (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12.30 | $0.30 | 2.5% |
| 2023 | $12.00 | $0.85 | 7.6% |
| 2022 | $11.15 | $0.85 | 8.2% |
| 2021 | $10.30 | $0.85 | 8.99% |
| 2020 | $9.45 | $0.85 | 9.9% |
| 2019 | $8.60 | $0.75 | 9.5% |
| 2018 | $7.85 | $0.15 | 1.9% |
| 2017 | $7.70 | $0.05 | 0.65% |
| 2016 | $7.65 | $0 | 0% |
| 2015 | $7.65 | $0.15 | 2% |
| 2014 | $7.50 | $0.15 | 2% |
| 2013 | $7.35 | $0.10 | 1.4% |
| 2012 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2011 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2010 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2009 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2008 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2007 | $6.15 | $1 | 19.41% |
| 2006 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2005 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2004 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2003 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2002 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2001 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2000 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1999 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1998 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1997 | $5.15 | $0.40 | 8.42% |
| 1996 | $4.75 | $0.50 | 11.76% |
| 1995 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1994 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1993 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1992 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1991 | $4.25 | $0.45 | 11.84% |
| 1990 | $3.80 | $0.45 | 13.43% |
| 1989 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1988 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1987 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1986 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1985 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1984 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1983 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
