North Dakota minimum wage: $7.25 an hour (the federal rate)
Checked November 8, 2026Source: North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights
Short answer
North Dakota has no state minimum wage above the federal one, so most employers there must pay at least $7.25 an hour under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Employers may pay tipped employees $4.86 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
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- Minimum wage today
- $7.25
- Tipped employees, cash wage
- $4.86
- Full-time year at today’s rate (2,080 hours)
- $15,080
We found no city or county in North Dakota with its own higher minimum wage.
North Dakota minimum wage by date
| Effective | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2009Current | $7.25 | $4.86 | State rate matches the federal minimum (federal $7.25 since July 24, 2009). Tip credit capped at 33% of the minimum; tipped employees earn over $30/month in tips.source |
Other North Dakota pay rules
- Paydays
- At least once a month on regular paydays set in advance.
- Overtime
- State law matches the federal rule: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek.
- Final paycheck
- Fired: By the next regular payday, paid as agreed or, without an agreement, by certified mail. Quit: By the next regular payday.
From the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights and the U.S. Department of Labor’s state tables. All North Dakota employer rules.
Minimum wage in states next to North Dakota
If you hire across a state line, the worker’s state sets the rate.
| State | Today | Next change |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $12.30 on January 1, 2027 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.87 on January 1, 2027 |
| Montana | $10.85 | $11.20 on January 1, 2027 |
Questions employers ask
What is the minimum wage in North Dakota in 2026?
North Dakota has no state minimum wage above the federal one, so most employers there must pay at least $7.25 an hour under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
What is the tipped minimum wage in North Dakota?
Employers may pay tipped employees $4.86 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
When does the North Dakota minimum wage go up next?
No increase is scheduled under current North Dakota law. Any change would need new legislation or a ballot measure.
Do cities in North Dakota have a higher minimum wage?
We found no city or county minimum wage in North Dakota.
Does North Dakota require overtime pay?
State law matches the federal rule: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek.
Compare every state’s minimum wage · Everything employers in North Dakota must do
Sources
- North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (revised November 5, 2026), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 8, 2026)
- History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates Under the FLSA, 1938-2009, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 8, 2026)