Montana Gets a Pay Raise

Montana's minimum wage up 45 cents to $9.20

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — With the new year, comes a pay raise for thousands of Montanans. As of January 1, the state's minimum wage is by 45 cents, to $9.20 per hour. State Labor Commissioner Laurie Esau says the increase is higher than it's been in recent years due to higher inflation. In 2021 the state's minimum wage was $8.75 an hour. The Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation, rose by 5.25% from August 2020 to August 2021, leading to the same percentage increase in the state's minimum wage. Montana voters increased the minimum wage in 2006 and set a policy to evaluate it each year based on the cost of living.