Montana State Minimum Wage & Exemption Laws
Under Montana Code Annotated § 39-3-409, the minimum wage is adjusted annually based on inflation (CPI). For 2026, the standard minimum wage is $10.90/hr. Employers with gross annual sales under $110,000 are exempt from the state minimum wage and may pay a lower rate of $7.25/hr. However, standard overtime (1.5x regular rate for hours over 40) still applies to non-exempt employees. For detailed state rules, visit the Montana Department of Labor & Industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Montana for 2026?
For 2026, Montana's state minimum wage is adjusted to $10.90 per hour for businesses with annual gross sales of $110,000 or more. For smaller businesses with sales under $110,000, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
How does the small business sales exemption work in Montana?
Under Montana Code Annotated § 39-3-409, an employer whose annual gross volume of sales is less than $110,000 may pay employees a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Employers with gross sales equal to or exceeding $110,000 must pay the standard CPI-adjusted minimum wage of $10.90 per hour.
How is weekly overtime calculated in Montana?
In Montana, overtime is paid at 1.5 times the employee's regular hourly rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a single 7-day workweek. There is no daily overtime limit under Montana state law.