Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Question

What is the new minimum wage for the City of St. Louis and when does it go into effect?

The City’s minimum wage is $10.00, effective immediately. Please see answers to below to determine whether you are an Employer or Employee covered  under the law. Additionally, please review Ordinance 70078.

Note that ordinance was adopted in 2015, but due to a lawsuit the ordinance was enjoined. The Supreme Court of Missouri has determined that the City’s law is valid. Additional information is provided at www.stlouis-mo.gov/minimum-wage.

Where can I obtain a copy of the new minimum wage law?

The ordinance can be found on the City’s website at this link: www.stlouis-mo.gov/minimum-wage.

How do I obtain the notice that an employer is required to post at their place of business?

The notice is available on the City’s website at www.stlouis-mo.gov/minimum-wage or in person at the Minimum Wage Compliance section of the City Counselor’s Office, 1200 Market Street, Room 314, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103. Notices will also be mailed  to employers upon request.  

Where is the notice supposed to be posted?

The notice needs to be posted in a conspicuous place at the Employer's business.

How do I obtain the notice that employers need to provide to employees with their first paycheck?

The notice will be available on the City’s website at www.stlouis-mo.gov/minimum-wage  or in person at the Minimum Wage Compliance section of the City Counselor’s Office, 1200 Market Street, Room 314, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103. Notices will also be mailed  to employers upon request.  

How do I file a complaint?

The form for filing a complaint is available on the City’s website, www.stlouis-mo.gov/minimum-wage.  The form can be filed electronically online or downloaded, completed and mailed to the office listed on the form; or the form can be picked up in person at the Minimum Wage Compliance section of the City Counselor’s Office, 1200 Market Street, Room 314, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103 and returned with the required documentation, addressed to the Minimum Wage Compliance Office.

What type of employer is exempt from the City’s minimum wage law?

Ordinances 70078 and 70090 exempt certain employers such as governmental entities (other than the City of St. Louis); sheltered workshops; any business whose annual gross revenue is less than $500,000 or if the business has been in operation for less than a year and whose annual gross revenue is reasonably projected to be less than $500,000; any employer who employs 15 or fewer employees regardless of location during each calendar week within the current and previous calendar year (whether full-time or part-time or temporary) and shall include contingent, contracted, temporary or through a staffing or employment agency or similar entity either directly, indirectly, or through affiliates.  Additionally, specific provisions are in place for franchises so if the business is a franchise, then that franchise will need to review the ordinance or contact the Minimum Wage Compliance section of the City Counselor’s Office for further information.

What exemptions exist in the law?

Certain types of employers are exempt (see explanation above) and certain types of workers do not qualify as "employees" and would not be entitled to the new minimum wage.  Those workers/individuals are any individual engaged in activities of an educational, charitable, religious, or non-profit organization where the employer-employee relationship does not, in fact, exist or where the services rendered to the organization are on a voluntary basis; any individual standing in loco parentis to foster children; any individual employed for less than 4 months of the year in a resident or day camp for children or any individual employed by an educational conference center operated by an educational, charitable or not-for-profit organization; any person employed for baby-sitting services when those services are provided on a casual basis; any individual who is an offender who is incarcerated in any correctional facility including offenders who provide labor or services on the grounds of such correctional facility; students who are in a qualified internship/work program; and employees of a sheltered workshop.

I am not sure whether my business is located in the City. How do I find out?

The City’s website contains an address search that will assist you in determining whether your business is in the City or view a map of City of St. Louis boundaries. Please conduct a parcel search by address. Additionally, you may contact the License Collector’s Office (314) 622-4528 to determine whether your business has a City business license, if applicable (some business entities are in the City, but are not licensed by the City).

I pay my employees electronically so how do I provide the notice with their first paycheck?

The ordinance does not specify how the notice should be provided to employees.  The notice may be sent electronically, a paper copy may be provided with the pay stub or otherwise sent to employees. Employers should document their compliance.

My business is located at the Airport in St. Louis County. Is my business required to pay the minimum wage under this Ordinance?

If your employees work at the Airport, they are not within the jurisdiction of this Ordinance. However, please review any contracts that Employer may have with the Airport to verify that Employer is  not required to pay a specific wage as set forth in the contract.

My business is on the border of the City and sometimes my employees work within the boundaries of the City.  Do I have to pay the City’s minimum wage when my employees are working in the City?

Maybe. In order for an employee to qualify for the City’s minimum wage, he or she must work at least 20 hours in the City of St. Louis during a calendar year.   Please also verify that you are not an exempt Employer under this Ordinance.

The Ordinance provides a phase-in schedule and indicates that an employer is exempt from the $11.00 minimum wage if the employer pays the phase-in schedule rates.  My business did not pay the minimum wage during the phase-in schedule because the Court had enjoined the Ordinance.  How does this impact my business now? Am I required to pay the $11.00 minimum wage or the $10.00 wage?

The City was enjoined from enforcing the Ordinance. Accordingly, Employers will be required to pay $10.00 an hour as if they had been paying under the phase-in schedule described in the Ordinance.    

I am an employee that receives tips.  How does the new minimum wage law impact me?

If an employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30.00 per month in tips, then the employer shall pay wages in the amount not less than 50% of the minimum wage rate specified in Ordinance 70078 (or $10.00 for the 2017 year) provided that the total compensation in tips and wages for such employee shall total at least the minimum wage rate specified in Ordinance 70078, the difference being made up by the Employer.