Employment & Worker Protection · Minnesota
Minnesota Minimum Wage Act
Minn. Stat. 177.24 - enacted in Minnesota.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2014
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 62/100
- Minnesota strictness
The bottom line
Minnesota Minimum Wage Act is an enacted law in Minnesota, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2025-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 62/100
- Minnesota strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Minnesota legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Minnesota Minimum Wage Act
Minnesota Minimum Wage Act (Minn. Stat. 177.24) is an enacted law in Minnesota under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2014-05-12 and becomes effective on 2025-01-01. Minnesota currently reports 5 tracked regulations with 5 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 62/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Minnesota within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in Minn. Stat. 177.24 itself.
Applicability under Minnesota Minimum Wage Act: All Minnesota employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: DLI enforcement. Private right of action. Back pay + penalties. Notable exemptions: Youth under 18 (90-day youth rate). Seasonal resorts (reduced rates)..
Summary
Minnesota minimum wage $11.13/hr small employers, $10.85/hr macro large (2025). Annually indexed. No separate tipped wage.
Key Requirements
Large employers (≥10K annual revenue): $11.13/hr. Small: $10.85/hr. No tipped credit — servers get full rate. Annual August 1 indexing.
Penalties
DLI enforcement. Private right of action. Back pay + penalties.
Applicability
All Minnesota employers.
Exemptions
Youth under 18 (90-day youth rate). Seasonal resorts (reduced rates).
How Minnesota compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Minnesota ranks #6 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota (this state) | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Minnesota is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Minnesota Minimum Wage Act enacted?
Minnesota Minimum Wage Act was enacted on 2014-05-12 and became effective on 2025-01-01. It was introduced as Minn. Stat. 177.24.
What are the penalties for violating Minnesota Minimum Wage Act?
DLI enforcement. Private right of action. Back pay + penalties. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Minnesota Minimum Wage Act apply to small businesses?
All Minnesota employers. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Minnesota compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Minnesota has a regulatory strictness score of 62/100, based on 5 enacted regulations out of 5 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Minnesota Minimum Wage Act?
The official text of Minnesota Minimum Wage Act (Minn. Stat. 177.24) is available from the Minnesota legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Minnesota Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Minnesota Minimum Wage Act is enacted in Minnesota, effective 2025-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Minnesota ranks #6 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Minnesota tracks across all five policy areas. Minnesota profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Minnesota source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.