what is minimum wage in montana

The minimum wage in Montana is 10.85 dollars per hour as of January 1, 2026, for most covered employees.

Quick Scoop: Montana Minimum Wage (2026)

• Standard minimum wage: 10.85 dollars per hour, effective 01/01/2026.

• It was previously 10.55 dollars per hour before the 2026 increase.

• The rate is adjusted yearly based on inflation (Consumer Price Index), so it can change each January.

• Some very small employers (non–FLSA, under about 110,000 dollars in annual sales) may use a lower 4.00 dollars per hour state small‑business rate in limited cases.

A quick real‑life picture

Imagine you work 30 hours a week at a coffee shop in Montana in 2026.

• At 10.85 dollars per hour, your gross weekly pay would be about 325.50 dollars (before taxes).
• If you worked full‑time at 40 hours, that would be about 434.00 dollars per week (again, before taxes).

A note on special cases

• State law does not allow employers to count tips toward the state minimum wage, so tipped workers must still get at least the full state minimum per hour from the employer.

• Federal and state law can both apply, but in practice you are entitled to the higher of the federal or Montana rate, which is currently Montana’s 10.85 dollars.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.