Minnesota Overtime Laws 2026: 48-Hour Rule, Minimum Wage & Calculator

Why Minnesota Overtime Is Different

Minnesota is one of only a handful of states with a state overtime threshold that differs from federal law. Under the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act (MFLSA), overtime is owed at 1.5× the regular rate after 48 hours in a workweek — not 40.

But here's the key: if you're covered by the federal FLSA (almost every employer with $500K+ revenue or interstate commerce), the 40-hour federal rule wins because workers always get the higher protection. The 48-hour Minnesota rule only applies to the small subset of employers exempt from federal FLSA but covered under MFLSA.

In practice, 99% of Minnesota workers get federal 40-hour overtime.

2026 Minnesota Minimum Wage

After the 2024 legislature unified the wage tiers, Minnesota now has a single statewide minimum:

| Category | 2026 rate | OT rate (1.5×) |

|---|---|---|

| All employers (statewide) | $11.13 | $16.70 |

| Minneapolis | $15.97 | $23.96 |

| St. Paul (Macro: 10,001+ employees) | $15.97 | $23.96 |

| St. Paul (Large: 101–10,000) | $15.97 | $23.96 |

| St. Paul (Small: 6–100) | $15.00 | $22.50 |

| 90-day training wage (under 20) | $9.08 | $13.62 |

Run a paycheck in our Minnesota Overtime Pay Calculator.

Worked Example — Minneapolis RN

Maria is a registered nurse in Minneapolis earning $48/hour who works 52 hours in one week:

• Regular pay (40 × $48): $1,920.00
• Overtime pay (12 × $72): $864.00
• Gross total: $2,784.00
• Premium half eligible for federal No Tax on Overtime deduction: 12 × $24 = $288

Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST)

Minnesota's statewide ESST law (effective 2024) requires all employers to provide 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked, capped at 48 hours/year. ESST hours are not counted toward the 40-hour overtime threshold — only hours actually worked count.

Twin Cities Industry Spotlight

• Healthcare (Mayo Clinic, M Health Fairview): subject to the federal 8/80 hospital rule option — see our nurse and healthcare worker overtime guide
• Manufacturing (3M, Polaris, Toro): standard 40-hour FLSA OT; many union contracts add Sunday premiums
• Retail & food service: tipped workers in Minnesota receive the full state minimum wage in cash — Minnesota is one of 7 states that prohibits the federal tip credit
• Tech/finance (Target HQ, U.S. Bank): salaried employees over $684/week are typically exempt

Tipped Employees — No Tip Credit

Minnesota is a "no tip credit" state. Servers and bartenders must receive the full minimum wage ($11.13 statewide, $15.97 in Minneapolis) before tips. This makes Minnesota tipped OT among the highest in the Midwest.

Minneapolis bartender OT rate: $15.97 × 1.5 = $23.96/hour cash.

See our tipped overtime guide for tip-pool rules.

Mandatory Overtime Limits

• No general cap for adult private-sector employees
• Nurses: Minnesota Statutes §181.275 limits mandatory OT to emergency situations only
• Minors under 18: maximum 40 hours/week during school weeks

Recovering Unpaid Overtime

• Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (free, 2–3 year statute)
• Treble damages (3× back wages) are available under Minnesota Statutes §177.27 for willful violations
• Federal FLSA lawsuit (2 years, 3 if willful, equal liquidated damages)

FAQ

Is the 48-hour Minnesota OT rule still in effect?

Technically yes, but it only applies to the rare employer exempt from federal FLSA. Federal 40-hour overtime applies to virtually all Minnesota employees.

Do salaried Minneapolis employees get overtime?

Only if they earn below $684/week federally OR don't meet the FLSA duties test. Salary alone doesn't make an employee exempt.

Is double-time required in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota requires only 1.5× the regular rate; double-time exists only in union contracts or California-style daily OT states.

Does the federal No Tax on Overtime deduction apply?

Yes — Minnesota residents can deduct up to $12,500 ($25,000 joint) in OT premiums federally. Minnesota state tax (5.35%–9.85%) still applies. See How Overtime Is Taxed 2026.