Minnesota labor laws for hourly staff: minimum wage, breaks and minors
Minnesota's basic minimum wage is $11.41 per hour, as listed by the US Department of Labor (updated November 5, 2026). The DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a meal-period requirement for adult private-sector employees for Minnesota, and its rest-period table lists a paid rest-period requirement.
Minnesota labor rules at a glance
| Topic | What the US DOL table says for Minnesota | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $11.41 | November 5, 2026 |
| Overtime / premium pay | Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 48 | November 5, 2026 |
| Meal break (adults) | See table below | January 1, 2023 |
| Paid rest break (adults) | See table below | January 1, 2023 |
| Minors under 16: max hours | 8-40 | July 15, 2025 |
| Minors 16–17: max hours | Blank on the DOL table | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, under 16 | 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, 16–17 | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day (11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. with written parental permission). | July 15, 2025 |
Minimum wage in Minnesota
Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $11.41
Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 48
The minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a set formula.
DOL footnote 1: The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
The DOL notes that some local governments set minimum wages higher than the state rate, and that subminimum or training rates are not shown in its table.
Meal breaks in Minnesota
| Rule | Prescribed by | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Sufficient unpaid time for employees who work 8 consecutive hours or more. Rest periods of less than 20 minutes may not be deducted from total hours worked. | Statute | May exclude certain employees exempt from the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act. Meal period requirement does not prohibit different provisions under collective bargaining agreement. |
The DOL lists Minnesota among the jurisdictions with separate meal-period provisions for minors.
DOL footnote 3/: Not displayed in table are exemptions for executive, administrative and professional employees, and for outside salespersons.
Rest breaks in Minnesota
| Rule | Prescribed by | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Paid adequate rest period within each 4 consecutive hours of work, to utilize nearest convenient restroom. Rest periods of less than 20 minutes may not be deducted from total hours worked. | Statute | May exclude certain employees exempt from the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act. |
Scheduling minors in Minnesota
Hours notation is the DOL's: daily-weekly-days per week (for example 8-40-6). Where state law is less restrictive than federal law, federal law applies; where it is more restrictive, state law applies (29 U.S.C. 218(a), as quoted by the DOL).
| Age | Maximum hours | Night work prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 8-40 | 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. |
| 16 and 17 | Blank on the DOL table | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day (11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. with written parental permission). |
DOL table footnotes: (a) State hours limitations on a school day and in a school week usually apply only to those enrolled in school. (b) Students of 14 and 15 enrolled in approved Work Experience and Career Exploration programs may work during school hours up to 3 hours on a school day and 23 hours in a school week. (c) Combined hours of work and school.
A blank cell is blank on the DOL table. The federal (FLSA) row of the same DOL table, for minors under 16: 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 in a non-school week, and no work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Tools: overtime calculator · labor cost calculator · all states
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your state labor department for current rules.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in Minnesota?
The US DOL lists Minnesota's basic minimum rate as $11.41 per hour (updated November 5, 2026). Some cities and counties set higher local rates.
Does Minnesota require meal breaks for adults?
Yes, the DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a requirement for Minnesota; see the table on this page.
Does Minnesota require paid rest breaks?
Yes, Minnesota is listed in the DOL paid rest-period table (revised January 1, 2023); see the table on this page.
Sources
- US DOL, Overtime Pay (checked 2026-11-12)
- State Minimum Wage Laws (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector 1 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-farm Employment as of July 15, 2025 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- US DOL, Breaks and Meal Periods (checked 2026-11-12)