Massachusetts · Wages · Updated April 2026

Massachusetts minimum wage: $15.00/hr. Unchanged since 2023.

Massachusetts's state minimum wage is $15.00/hr — the rate has been unchanged since January 1, 2023, the final step of the 2018 Grand Bargain phase-in. No city or local minimum wages are permitted; the statewide rate applies uniformly. Massachusetts also has a statutory floor of 50¢ above the federal minimum (MGL c. 151 § 1) — meaning if federal rises above $14.50, MA auto-adjusts. Pending Senate Bill S.1349 would raise the rate to $16.25 in 2026, escalating to $20.00 by 2029, but it has not been enacted as of May 2026.

2026 Rate
$15.00/hr
Authority
MGL c. 151
Floor
50¢ above federal
Active

State Minimum Wage Floor

Enforces the $15.00 floor with the 50¢-above-federal auto-adjustment safeguard. Surfaces pending S.1349 escalation if signed. Routes agricultural workers separately ($8.00).

Block save below $15.00
Surface S.1349 escalation if signed
Auto-adjust if federal rises
Always running

What those rules do as a Massachusetts shift is created.

The hero card configuration: Block on below-floor, Flag on pending legislation, Flag on auto-adjust mechanism.

Block · save below $15.00

When a manager attempts to save a Massachusetts shift at a rate below $15.00, the save fails. The shift card identifies the controlling rate and points to MGL c. 151. Agricultural workers route to the $8.00 floor under a separate policy.

Flag · S.1349 escalation if signed

Pending Senate Bill S.1349 proposes $16.25 in 2026, $17.50 in 2027, $18.75 in 2028, $20.00 in 2029, with annual CPI indexing thereafter. If the bill is signed, Teambridge surfaces the new rates with effective dates and prepares batch uplift workflows for the controlling step.

Flag · auto-adjust if federal rises

MGL c. 151 § 1 mandates that the state rate stay at least 50¢ above federal. If federal minimum wage rises above $14.50, Teambridge auto-uplifts the controlling MA floor to federal + 50¢ — preserving the statutory differential.

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The rule, plainly stated

MGL c. 151 + the 50¢-above-federal safeguard.

Massachusetts's wage law is structurally simple: one statewide rate, no city ordinances. The complexity is in the statutory differential against the federal rate, the agricultural carve-out, and the pending escalation legislation.

MGL c. 151, § 1; 454 CMR 27: The minimum fair wage shall be not less than fifteen dollars per hour, and in no case shall the minimum wage rate be less than $.50 higher than the effective federal minimum rate. The minimum wage applies to all employees except agricultural workers, members of a religious order, workers being trained in certain educational, nonprofit, or religious organizations, and outside sales people.

$15.00 statewide floor

Massachusetts's state minimum wage is $15.00/hr for non-exempt workers, in effect since January 1, 2023. The rate was the final step of the 2018 Grand Bargain (Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2018), which also phased out Sunday/holiday premium pay and introduced PFML. There is no automatic CPI indexing — future increases require new legislation or a ballot question.

50¢-above-federal statutory floor

MGL c. 151 § 1 mandates that the state rate stay at least 50¢ above the federal minimum. If the federal minimum is raised above $14.50, the Massachusetts rate auto-adjusts to maintain the differential. This is a structural safeguard — no Massachusetts legislation needed when federal rises. Practically dormant since 2009 (federal at $7.25), but operationally alive.

On autopilot

Teambridge enforces the $15.00 floor and watches the safeguards.

Massachusetts is a simpler wage structure than WA or IL — but the 50¢-above-federal auto-adjust and the pending S.1349 escalation create scenarios that deserve continuous monitoring.

01 · Rate validation at shift creation

Floor enforced at save.

When a Massachusetts shift is created, Teambridge validates against $15.00 (or the agricultural $8.00 if the worker is tagged accordingly). Below-floor saves fail with the controlling cite displayed.

02 · Federal rate monitoring

50¢ buffer maintained.

Teambridge monitors federal minimum wage announcements. If federal rises above $14.50, the MA rate auto-uplifts to maintain the 50¢ differential. Workflow is automatic — no operator intervention required.

03 · S.1349 contingency

Ready if signed.

If S.1349 is enacted, Teambridge surfaces the schedule (2026/27/28/29) with batch uplift workflows ready. Operators see the bill status and the projected impact on their workforce.

04 · Audit trail per shift

Floor decision logged.

Every shift logs the controlling floor at save: $15.00 standard, $8.00 agricultural, federal+$0.50 hypothetical. Defensible against AGO Fair Labor Division complaint or private wage suit.

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FAQ

People also ask.

What is Massachusetts's minimum wage in 2026?
$15.00/hr statewide, unchanged since January 1, 2023. No automatic CPI indexing. Future increases require new legislation. Pending Senate Bill S.1349 would raise to $16.25 in 2026 and $20.00 by 2029, but has not been enacted.
Can Massachusetts cities set higher minimum wages?
No. Unlike Washington, California, or Illinois, Massachusetts does not authorize cities or counties to set higher minimum wages for private employers. Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, and other localities apply the same $15.00 floor.
What's the 50¢-above-federal rule?
MGL c. 151 § 1 mandates the MA rate stay at least 50¢ above the federal minimum. If federal rises above $14.50, MA auto-adjusts. Practically dormant since 2009 (federal at $7.25), but operationally alive — a structural safeguard against federal lapses.
What about agricultural workers?
Separate $8.00/hr floor — a pre-Grand-Bargain holdover that wasn't raised in 2018. Agricultural workers are tagged separately in payroll for the lower rate. The disparity is striking and politically contested.
Are there any youth or training subminimum rates?
Massachusetts has no general youth subminimum wage. Schools, colleges, and universities can pay enrolled students at 80% of the state minimum if they obtain a special license from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Camp counselors and trainees in qualifying programs may also qualify.
What's pending under S.1349?
Senate Bill S.1349 proposes $16.25 (2026), $17.50 (2027), $18.75 (2028), $20.00 (2029), with annual CPI indexing thereafter and a tipped service rate at 60% of the standard. Companion H.733 proposes minimum exempt salary increases. Neither has been enacted as of May 2026.
How does Teambridge handle this?
Every Massachusetts shift validates against the $15.00 floor. Federal rate monitoring maintains the 50¢ differential safeguard. S.1349 contingency surfaces if signed. Agricultural workers route to $8.00. Decision logging is audit-ready.