Montana Minimum Wage
If you're interested in knowing how much the Montana minimum wage is, you've come to the right place. Here's everything you need to know about the state's current rate and how it's expected to change over the coming years.
As of January 1, 2024, Montana minimum wage has been raised to $9.95 an hour. It’s important to note that this amount will apply to employees who work for businesses with gross sales of more than $110,000. For businesses with sales under that threshold, the minimum wage will be $4.00. Montana minimum wage rate is adjusted annually according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation. Although the federal minimum wage has remained the same since it was last raised in July, the Montana state minimum wage has increased by 75 cents. In fact, it’s the biggest increase in the years.
The Montana minimum wage does not include students. It also does not include part-time employees. However, it does include most workers.
Tipped employees who work overtime are not paid a lower cash wage. In fact, most tipped employees receive overtime pay. They are also paid at a rate of 1.5 times the normal hourly rate.
Montana Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees
There is no separate Montana minimum wage for tipped employees. Instead, the state minimum wage is equal to or higher than the federal minimum wage. While tips do not count as part of the employee’s wage, employers must still keep track of them for tax purposes. Employers can also use TIP credits.
Montana eatery owners must pay full Social Security and workers’ compensation insurance. They may also pay their tipped employees a minimum of $4.00 per hour.
In addition to paying a minimum wage, Montana employers are also required to post information about regularly scheduled paydays. These postings must be made within ten business days of the due date. If an employee files a wage claim, the claim must be filed within 180 days of the alleged violation.
Businesses with sales under $110,000 are not required to pay a minimum wage. In these cases, they are only required to pay the federal minimum wage. Many states, including Montana, use the tip credit system when calculating a tipped minimum wage. A tip credit is a dollar amount for every dollar an employee receives in tips. An employer can then use these credits to cover the difference between the full and tipped minimum wage.