The City of Saint Paul has officially announced its mandatory minimum wage rates for 2027, establishing scheduled hourly pay increases that take effect on both January 1 and July 1, 2027, based on individual business sizes. These annual adjustments reflect the city’s ongoing indexation for inflation under local statutory frameworks.
Under the updated schedule, the Saint Paul minimum wage rates for 2027 create a tiered system that categorizes employers by their total workforce count. Employers must include all full-time, part-time, jointly employed, temporary, and remote workers when determining their proper business category.
Tiered Wage Schedule for 2027
The municipal framework scales hourly pay floors depending on whether an establishment qualifies as a micro, small, or large operation. Effective January 1, 2027, the minimum wage hourly rate will be set at $17.02 for large and macro businesses (101+ employees), $16.37 for small businesses (6–100 employees), and $14.25 for micro businesses (5 employees or fewer).
A second wave of adjustments follows mid-year. Effective July 1, 2027, the minimum wage hourly rates shift to $17.02 for large and macro businesses (101+ employees), $17.02 for small businesses (6–100 employees), and $15.00 for micro businesses (5 employees or fewer).
Enforcement, Compliance, and Labor Standards
These wage mandates operate alongside the city’s broader labor protections, which are actively monitored by municipal regulators. According to stpaul.gov, the Department of Human Rights & Equal Economic Opportunity (HREEO) investigates potential infractions and administers enforcement protocols when local ordinances are breached.
Highlighting the city’s rigorous oversight, municipal records show a recent enforcement action involving St. Paws LLC, a former local dog daycare and boarding facility. An HREEO investigation revealed that the business violated local wage and leave statutes by denying Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) rights to 58 employees while paying 8 workers below the mandated baseline. Consequently, on August 12, 2026, the Saint Paul City Council subsequently ordered St. Paws LLC to pay $40,201.23 in restitution to 61 employees, covering back pay and liquidated damages.
Background and Regulatory Oversight
Saint Paul’s wage framework stems from Chapter 224 of the municipal code, which the Saint Paul City Council unanimously approved on November 14, 2018, and subsequently signed into law. The Labor Standards Division handles ongoing education, compliance, and workplace standard enforcement.
Business operators and workers seeking further guidance, updated workplace posters, or specific wage schedules can access resources directly through stpaul.gov/minimumwage. For direct inquiries, the Labor Standards Division can be reached at 651-266-8966 or via email at [email protected].
As these 2027 thresholds approach, employers across the municipality must review their payroll classifications and headcount calculations to ensure full compliance ahead of the January implementation date. We welcome your thoughts on these upcoming wage adjustments—please share your comments and join the discussion below.
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