Labor Rights in Missouri
Missouri's $15 minimum wage in 2026 makes it a wage leader in the region, but the legislature repealed the voter-approved paid sick leave law and ended future inflation indexing. Fired workers have an unusually strong protection: wages are due on the day of discharge.
Data last verified 2026-10-12
Workplace rights in Missouri at a glance
| Minimum wage (2026) | $15.00, the final step of voter-approved Proposition A as amended by HB 567. No inflation indexing after 2026. Retail and service businesses with annual gross sales under $500,000 are exempt. |
|---|---|
| Tipped minimum wage (2026) | $7.50 cash wage (50% of the minimum wage). Tips plus wages must reach $15.00 per hour, with the employer covering any shortfall. |
| Overtime | 1.5x the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. No daily overtime. |
| Paid sick leave | No statewide mandate. Voters approved paid sick leave in Nov 2024 (Proposition A), but the legislature repealed it via HB 567, effective Aug 28, 2025. |
| Paid family and medical leave | No state program. |
| Meal breaks | No state requirement beyond federal. |
| Rest breaks | No state requirement beyond federal. |
| Right-to-work law | No |
| At-will employment | public policy |
| Final paycheck | Wages of a discharged employee are due and payable on the day of discharge (RSMo 290.110). If unpaid 7 days after a written request, wages continue as a penalty for up to 60 days. Missouri has no specific timing rule for employees who quit. |
How Missouri compares to federal law
Missouri sets a minimum wage above the federal floor of $7.25 an hour, so the state rate is what most employers must pay. Overtime follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act: time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek. There is no state paid sick leave or paid family leave mandate, so the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (unpaid leave for eligible workers) is the only baseline.
Neighboring states
- Iowa$7.25 minimum wage, paid sick leave no, right-to-work yes.
- Illinois$15.00 minimum wage, paid sick leave yes, right-to-work no.
- Kentucky$7.25 minimum wage, paid sick leave no, right-to-work yes.
- Tennessee$7.25 minimum wage, paid sick leave no, right-to-work yes.
Compare all 50 states and DC side by side
Workplace laws change. This summary reflects state law as verified on 2026-10-12; confirm details with your state labor department before acting on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is Missouri's minimum wage in 2026?
$15.00 per hour, the final step of 2024's voter-approved Proposition A. After 2026 there are no automatic inflation increases, because the legislature removed indexing.
Did Missouri keep its paid sick leave law?
No. Voters approved paid sick leave in November 2024, but the legislature repealed it in HB 567, effective August 28, 2025. Missouri now has no statewide paid sick leave mandate.
I was fired in Missouri. When do I get paid?
Missouri law says your wages are due on the day you are discharged. If you request payment in writing and it is not sent within 7 days, your wages continue as a penalty for up to 60 days.
Is Missouri a right-to-work state?
No. Missouri voters rejected a right-to-work law by a wide margin in 2018.