Missouri Worker Rights
Missouri voters raised the minimum wage to $15 starting in 2026. The paid sick leave part of that 2024 ballot measure was later repealed by the legislature.
- Missouri
Pay
- Minimum wage: above the federal rate, reaching $15 in 2026 under a 2024 ballot measure.
- Overtime: 1.5x over 40 hours a week.
- Prevailing wage: required on many public works projects, and OSHA 10 training is required for workers on public works.
- Paid sick leave: approved by voters in 2024 but repealed by the legislature in 2025.
Breaks and leave
- No state law requiring meal or rest breaks for adults.
- No state paid sick leave requirement after the 2025 repeal. The federal FMLA may apply.
Unions and right-to-work
Missouri is not a right-to-work state, so a union contract can require covered workers to pay at least a fee for representation. Private-sector workers have the right to organize under federal law. See Your Right to Organize.
Where to file
- Unpaid wages and overtime: Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards.
- Discrimination and harassment: Missouri Commission on Human Rights, or the U.S. EEOC.
- Safety: Federal OSHA covers private employers. See Missouri safety rules.
- Work injuries: report the injury to your employer right away, in writing, and follow up with Missouri’s workers’ compensation agency. See Workers’ Compensation.
Check current rules: this is a summary. Wage rates and labor laws change often, usually on January 1 or July 1, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Confirm details with the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations before acting. Federal protections apply too. See Where to Get Help.
Standards & references
Last updated: