Current minimum wage in Montana
Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 an hour in 2026 and is adjusted each January for inflation. Employers may not take a tip credit, and only certain small businesses outside federal coverage can pay the lower $4.00 state rate.
The rate rose from $10.55 (effective January 1, 2025) to $10.85 on January 1, 2026, an increase of $0.30 an hour or $624 a year for a full-time worker.
Next scheduled change
Adjusted each January 1 for inflation; the 2027 amount had not been published in the sources reviewed on October 8, 2026.
Tipped minimum wage
Montana does not allow employers to take a tip credit. Tipped workers earn the full $10.85 an hour before tips. Montana does not allow a tip credit, so tipped workers must be paid the full minimum wage before tips.
What minimum wage pays in Montana
| Hours per week | Weekly pay | Yearly pay |
|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | $217.00 | $11,284 |
| 25 hours | $271.25 | $14,105 |
| 30 hours | $325.50 | $16,926 |
| 35 hours | $379.75 | $19,747 |
| 40 hours | $434.00 | $22,568 |
After federal and Montana taxes, a full-time minimum wage worker who files single keeps about $19,891 a year, or $765 per biweekly check. Run your own numbers with the Montana paycheck calculator or see the full breakdown for $11 an hour.
Overtime rules
Follows the federal 40-hour weekly overtime rule.
City and county minimum wages
No local minimum wages.
Exceptions and special rates
Businesses not covered by federal law with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less may pay $4.00 an hour.
How Montana compares
Montana ranks #30 of 51 for its minimum wage. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Montana in 2026?
The Montana minimum wage is $10.85 an hour as of January 1, 2026.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Montana?
Montana does not allow a tip credit, so tipped workers must be paid the full $10.85 minimum wage before tips. Montana does not allow a tip credit, so tipped workers must be paid the full minimum wage before tips.
When does the Montana minimum wage go up next?
Adjusted each January 1 for inflation; the 2027 amount had not been published in the sources reviewed on October 8, 2026.
How much is minimum wage in Montana per year?
At $10.85 an hour, a 40-hour week pays $434 and a full year pays $22,568 before taxes. A single filer keeps about $19,891 after federal and Montana taxes.
How does overtime work in Montana?
Follows the federal 40-hour weekly overtime rule.
Sources
- Montana Department of Labor and Industry: State Minimum Wage
- Montana Department of Labor and Industry: 2026 Minimum Wage Determination Letter
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (updated July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wage