Minimum Wage
On November 14, 2018, Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter signed into law a citywide minimum wage ordinance. The signing followed a unanimous vote from the Saint Paul City Council to adopt the ordinance. The City of Saint Paul Minimum Wage Ordinance sets the minimum wage beginning in 2020 for macro businesses. The City of Saint Paul minimum wage ordinance does not contain an adjustment for tipped employees.
Read the City Minimum Wage Ordinance Read the City Minimum Wage Rules
Find Minimum Wage Employer Resources Find Minimum Wage Employee Resources
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry - Guidance on COVID-19
For more information on Worker Protections related to COVID-19 please visit: https://www.dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/MN_worker_protections_related_to_COVID_19.pdf
For more information on Unemployment Benefits visit: https://www.uimn.org/applicants/needtoknow/news-updates/covid-19.jsp.
If you'd like to contact Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry please call (651)284-5075 or email dli.laborstandards@state.mn.us with questions.
Additional Resources
Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Hotlines
School and child care questions:
651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Health questions:
651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
City of St. Paul Jurisdictional Boundaries
Businesses and individuals can use the map of Saint Paul City Council Wards to verify whether an employee is working in the City of Saint Paul. Individuals can either type in a specific address, or use the map to zoom in on city boundaries. If "No Results" are found based on an address search, the address is not located within the City of Saint Paul.
Minimum Wage Schedules
The phase-in period will begin in 2020. The phase-in period length for employers will be dependent on business size, as determined by numbers of employees. The City of Saint Paul and macro businesses will lead the citywide phase-in with its own employees starting on January 1, 2020, and reaching a $15 minimum wage starting July 1, 2022. Please note if the state minimum-wage is higher than the city minimum-wage, employees who are covered by both laws must be paid the higher minimum-wage.
| Date | Macro Businesses (10,001 + employees) & City of Saint Paul Employees |
| 1/1/2020 | $12.50 |
| 7/1/2021 | $12.50 |
| 7/1/2022 | $15.00 |
| 1/1/2023 | City Rate* |
| Date | Large Businesses (101 - 10,000 employees) | Small Businesses (6 - 100 employees) | Micro Businesses (5 or fewer employees) |
| 7/1/2020 | $11.50 | $10.00 | $9.25 |
| 7/1/2021 | $12.50 | $11.00 | $10.00 |
| 7/1/2022 | $13.50 | $12.00 | $10.75 |
| 7/1/2023 | $15.00 | $13.00 | $11.50 |
| 7/1/2024 | City Rate* | $14.00 | $12.25 |
| 7/1/2025 | City Rate* | $15.00 | $13.25 |
| 7/1/2026 | City Rate* | City Rate* | $14.25 |
| 7/1/2027 | City Rate* | City Rate* | $15.00 |
| 7/1/2028 | City Rate* | City Rate* | City Rate* |
*No later than September 1 of each year, beginning in 2022, the director shall determine the increase in the minimum wage rates to be paid by the City of Saint Paul and macro businesses based on the percentage increase calculated by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry pursuant to Minnesota Statute Section 177.24, subdivision 1 (f) and applicable to the State of Minnesota minimum wage divided by two (2) in 2022 and based on the full percentage increase in each subsequent year rounded to the nearest cent. The director shall announce the adjusted minimum wage rates on September 1 of each year and the new minimum wage rates for City of Saint Paul employees and macro businesses determined under this subsection take effect on January 1 of each subsequent year, beginning in 2023 (224.03(B)(3).
Youth Training and Employment
If you train or employ youth workers, you may be subject to a lower minimum wage rate for qualifying workers.
Youth Training
If you employ youth workers under the age of twenty (20) years in a city-approved youth-focused training or apprenticeship programs, the minimum wage rate cannot be less than eighty-five (85) percent of the city minimum wage for small employers rounded up to the nearest nickel.
Read more about youth training and minimum wage
Youth Employment
Employees who are fourteen (14)—seventeen (17) years of age must be paid not less than eighty-five (85) percent of the city minimum wage for small employers and rounded to the nearest nickel during their first ninety (90) days after the date of hire. After more than ninety (90) days after the date of hire, employees who are fourteen (14)—seventeen (17) years of age shall be paid the applicable city minimum wage
Read more about youth employment and minimum wage
Youth Minimum Wage Notice
View the Youth and Training Minimum Wage Adjustment Notice
Minimum Wage Complaints
If an employee believes their minimum wage rights have been denied, please complete a Complaint Form and submit it to the Labor Standards Unit for review. After receiving the complaint, a city staff member will follow up with the complainant within five (5) business days.
City's Minimum Wage Rules additional languages: