Michigan MINIMUM WAGES

Michigan State Minimum Wage for 2026

As of February 21, 2025, Michigan’s minimum wage rates stands at $12.48 per hour for non-tipped workers and $5.99 per hour for tipped workers. Minors under 18 will earn $10.61 per hour, maintaining 85% rate of the minimum wage. The training wage for young employees stands at $4.25 per hour.

This is a significant increase from the previous rate of $10.56 per hour effective from January 1, 2025  to February 20,2025. During this period, the tipped employee wages were $4.01 per hour and minors were entitled to $8.98 per hour.

Michigan plans further increases in the coming years, with rates expected to reach $13.29 per hour on February 21, 2026, and $14.16 per hour on February 21, 2027, continuing upward in subsequent years. These adjustments reflect Michigan’s commitment to gradually raising wages, coupled with a structured tip credit system that gradually increases tipped wage percentages over time.

Minimum Wages in Michigan Cities

The table below lists the minimum wage rate across all cities of Michigan. 

Threshold For Employees Exempt

As of 2025, Michigan follows the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines for exempt employee salary thresholds, based on which employees are classified under exempt and non-exempt categories.

• Non-exempt employees are typically lower-wage workers entitled to receive the state minimum wage plus overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for hours worked beyond 40 per week.
• Exempt employees work on a salary basis and earn above the salary threshold required for exemption from overtime protections.

The salary thresholds were increased to $844 per week ($43,888 annually) and another increase to $1,128 per week ($58,656 annually) was scheduled on January 1, 2025. However,  a federal court ruling blocked this increase and reverted the salary threshold to the previous standard of $684 per week ($35,568 annually).

Michigan employers must comply with these current standards. While some states have adopted higher salary thresholds for exempt status, Michigan continues to follow the federal benchmark.

Historical Data of Michigan Minimum Wages

Michigan’s minimum wage history dates back to 1971, when the state adopted the federal laws to ensure fair pay for its workforce. For over 3 and a half decades, Michigan aligned with the federal standards. However, in 2006, the state passed Public Act 81 (also known as the Workforce Opportunity Wage Act), raising the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.95 per hour beyond the federal minimum. It also laid the ground for future increases to reach $7.40 per hour by 2008. 

In 2014, Public Act 138 further outlined plans to subsequently increase wage rates; by 2023, Michigan’s minimum wage reached $10.10 per hour. At present, the state observes a minimum wage of $10.33 per hour and has laid plans to further increase the rate annually until 2027. 

The table below provides an overview of Michigan’s wage increase between 1968 to 2024. 

* – Under the FLSA, the two rates shown in 1968, 1970, and 1976 reflect the former multiple-track minimum wage system in effect from 1961 to 1978.

*** – Rates applicable to employers of four or more.

Source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/history

Exemptions In Minimum Wages of Michigan  

While Michigan’s minimum wage laws ideally apply to workers aged 18 years and above, working for businesses with two or more employees, there are certain exemptions that apply: 

• Tipped workers, who are subject to a separate tipped minimum wage rate.
• Executive, administrative, and professional (EAP) employees classified as exempt under federal and state law.
• Minors aged 16 and 17 are entitled to a minimum wage of $10.61 per hour.
• Newly hired employees aged 16 to 19 may be paid a training wage of $4.25 per hour for their first 90 calendar days of employment.
• Employees with certain physical or mental disabilities may be paid according to special wage provisions.