Michigan’s minimum wage is going up on January 1, 2026, under the state’s Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act. The hourly minimum wage for most workers will increase from $12.48 to $13.73. That’s a $1.25 bump that affects tens of thousands of Michigan workers.
The increases are part of a schedule written into law that will take Michigan’s minimum wage to $15 per hour on January 1, 2027, and then tie it to inflation after that.
What Changes on January 1, 2026
- Standard minimum wage: increases to $13.73 per hour from $12.48.
- Tipped workers: will see the tipped minimum wage go up to $5.49 per hour (40 percent of the full minimum wage) as long as tips bring them up to at least the full rate.
- Minors (ages 16 and 17): can be paid 85 percent of the minimum wage, rising to $11.67 per hour.
- Training wage: for employees under age 20 in their first 90 calendar days of employment remains unchanged.
These changes come from Michigan’s labor department and the wage rules posted by the state. They reflect a planned schedule of increases that lawmakers set into motion after legal and legislative actions over the last few years.
Why It’s Happening
Under current Michigan law, set by the state legislature and state wage rules, annual increases are scheduled until the $15 minimum wage is reached in 2027. After that, annual adjustments are tied to inflation. This means the minimum wage won’t just sit still after 2027; it will move with changes in the cost of living.
For the official wage schedule and full details straight from the state, see the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s minimum wage page:
