This Law Firm Publication by Jackson Lewis, P.C. discusses Minnesota's new law increasing the minimum wage rate. The minimum wage will rise incrementally and ultimately increase in August 2016 to $9.50 per hour for employees of large employers (with at least $500,000 of annual gross revenue) and $7.75 per hour for employees of small employers and certain workers in the J-1 nonimmigrant visa classification. The first increase will take effect on August 1, 2014, when large employers must pay the minimum wage of $8.00 per hour, small employers must pay $6.50 per hour and employers of certain J-1 nonimmigrant visa classification workers must pay $7.25 per hour.