Minnesota nursing homes must now pay statewide minimum hourly wages ranging from $19 to $27, after a federal approval delayed the rules beyond their originally written start date. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry says the standards took effect September 10, 30 days after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the related state Medicaid plan amendment on August 11.
The immediate floors are $19 for nursing-home workers generally, $22.50 for certified nursing assistants, $23.50 for trained medication aides and $27 for licensed practical nurses. The state’s wage table also shows a second increase scheduled for January 1, 2027: $20.50 for general workers, $24 for nursing assistants, $25 for medication aides and $28.50 for practical nurses.
The change creates a distinct wage system for nursing-home employment rather than simply applying Minnesota’s ordinary minimum wage. The underlying applicability rule says the standards apply statewide and could not take effect until lawmakers provided sufficient funding for the associated rate increase and the federal government approved it. Because approval did not arrive by December 1, 2025, the rule shifted implementation to 30 days after federal approval.
What workers and facilities should check
For payroll purposes, job classification matters. Minnesota’s general rule sets the base for all nursing-home workers, while a separate occupation-specific rule assigns the higher floors to certified nursing assistants, trained medication aides and licensed practical nurses. Employers therefore need to match duties and credentials to the correct category rather than treating $19 as a universal rate.
Workers should review pay statements covering work performed from September 10 forward and compare the hourly rate with the applicable classification. Facilities should also prepare now for the automatic January increases, which add $1.50 an hour to each of the four wage levels. For a full-time employee working 40 hours a week, that scheduled increase equals $60 more in gross weekly pay before overtime, taxes or deductions.
The new wage floor sits alongside an existing holiday-pay requirement. The Labor Department’s official guidance says nursing-home employees who work during any of 11 listed state holidays must receive at least time-and-a-half pay, a standard that has been effective since January 1, 2025. The wage and holiday rules are separate obligations, so the higher occupational minimum does not replace the holiday premium.
Public input continues after implementation
The Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, created by the Legislature in 2023, includes state officials plus representatives of workers and employers. Its current schedule includes a September 22 public forum in St. Paul, with a hybrid participation option, as the board gathers feedback from workers, facilities and community members.
The practical test now shifts from rulemaking to payroll compliance and retention. The wage levels are legally established; whether they improve staffing stability or increase financial pressure on facilities will require subsequent state data. Employees and operators should rely on Labor Department notices for implementation guidance rather than informal summaries, particularly as the January 1 increase approaches.
