Employment & Worker Protection · Montana
Montana Minimum Wage
MCA 39-3-404 - enacted in Montana.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2015
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 31/100
- Montana strictness
The bottom line
Montana Minimum Wage is an enacted law in Montana, 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
- 31/100
- Montana strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Montana legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Montana Minimum Wage
Montana Minimum Wage (MCA 39-3-404) is an enacted law in Montana under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2015-01-01 and becomes effective on 2025-01-01. Montana currently reports 2 tracked regulations with 2 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 31/100 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 Montana within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in MCA 39-3-404 itself.
Applicability under Montana Minimum Wage: All Montana employers with $110K+ gross sales. Others: federal rate. Penalty exposure is documented as: Dept of Labor and Industry enforcement. Back pay + 2% monthly interest. Notable exemptions: Employers with gross sales under $110K (federal floor)..
Summary
Montana minimum wage $10.55/hr (2025). Annually CPI-indexed. Full minimum for tipped workers — no sub-minimum tip credit.
Key Requirements
$10.55/hr (2025). No tipped credit — all workers receive full rate. Annual CPI adjustment.
Penalties
Dept of Labor and Industry enforcement. Back pay + 2% monthly interest.
Applicability
All Montana employers with $110K+ gross sales. Others: federal rate.
Exemptions
Employers with gross sales under $110K (federal floor).
How Montana compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Montana ranks #30 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 | 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. Montana 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 Montana Minimum Wage enacted?
Montana Minimum Wage was enacted on 2015-01-01 and became effective on 2025-01-01. It was introduced as MCA 39-3-404.
What are the penalties for violating Montana Minimum Wage?
Dept of Labor and Industry enforcement. Back pay + 2% monthly interest. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Montana Minimum Wage apply to small businesses?
All Montana employers with $110K+ gross sales. Others: federal rate. 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 Montana compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Montana has a regulatory strictness score of 31/100, based on 2 enacted regulations out of 2 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 Montana Minimum Wage?
The official text of Montana Minimum Wage (MCA 39-3-404) is available from the Montana 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 Montana Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Montana Minimum Wage is enacted in Montana, effective 2025-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Montana ranks #30 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Montana tracks across all five policy areas. Montana 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 Montana 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.