Montana Minimum Wage
Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's State Minimum Wage Laws table, updated November 5, 2026.
Scheduled: $11.20 from January 1, 2027.
Source: Montana Department of Labor & Industry, notice to employers of October 7, 2026, read November 10, 2026.
- Rate in effect
- $10.85
- Federal minimum
- $7.25
- Full-time year
- $22,568
- State rank
- 30th of 51
Local ordinances and sector rates can be higher where state law allows them, and are not shown here. To confirm a local or sector rate, use the state agency listed on the Department of Labor's State Labor Offices page.
Note from the source: $10.85 for businesses with gross annual sales over $110,000.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05. Checked against NCSL state minimum wage table (as of 2026-07-01); EPI 2026 table where listed. A full-time year is 2,080 hours, the convention BLS uses. Confirm the rate in the Department of Labor table. Table read November 10, 2026; rechecked on the January 1 and July 1 statutory change dates, next on January 1, 2027. Scheduled rates are shown where the Department of Labor or the state's own agency publishes one we could read; a state showing none may still have one, so check its labor office.
How does Montana's minimum wage compare with the federal rate?
The rate in Montana is $3.60 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Montana?
The Department of Labor lists tipped wages in Montana by business size: a business with gross annual sales over $110,000, a cash wage of $10.85; a business not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less, a cash wage of $4.00.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, updated November 5, 2026.
How does the minimum compare with pay in Montana?
The lowest-paid tenth of jobs in Montana paid $14.13 an hour or less in May 2025, so the current minimum equals 77% of that line and 46% of the state's median hourly pay of $23.43.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, all occupations, hourly; minimum wage as listed on November 5, 2026. The wage figures are from May 2025, so a rate raised since then can sit above them. Confirm the wage figures in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.
Which occupations in Montana pay closest to the minimum?
Dishwashers have the 10th-percentile wage closest to $10.85, at $10.86 an hour, among occupations with at least 100 jobs.
| Occupation | 10th percentile | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwashers | $10.86 | $14.49 | 2,120 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $10.80 | $13.42 | 290 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $10.92 | $13.90 | 1,260 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $10.94 | $13.98 | 14,960 |
| Gambling Service Workers, All Other | $10.75 | $11.25 | 790 |
| Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other | $10.99 | $18.54 | 130 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $11.03 | $13.49 | 2,370 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $10.65 | $18.27 | 690 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $11.05 | $16.81 | 1,490 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $11.06 | $15.43 | 1,050 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, hourly wages. Confirm in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.