Maryland minimum wage: $15.00 an hour
Checked November 8, 2026Source: Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry
Some counties in Maryland require more. See county rates
Short answer
Maryland’s minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2024, according to the Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry.
Employers may pay tipped employees $3.63 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $15.00.
Some Maryland counties require more: Howard County $16.00 an hour, Montgomery County $15.95 to $18.00 by employer and Prince George’s County $15.30.
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- Minimum wage today
- $15.00
- Tipped employees, cash wage
- $3.63
- Full-time year at today’s rate (2,080 hours)
- $31,200
Cities and counties can require more. Montgomery County, Howard County and Prince George’s County set higher local rates (Montgomery County’s adjusts every July 1).
County rates in Maryland
Read from each government source on November 8, 2026. Where a place sets different rates by employer, each gets its own line.
| Place | Rate now | Next rate and date | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard CountyStandard employers | $16.00 | $16.45on January 1, 2027 | Employers operating in Howard County with one or more employees, for work performed in the county. Does not apply to federal, state or other local governments.Source: Howard County |
| Howard CountySmaller employers (14 or fewer employees, 501(c)(3) organizations, certain Medicaid home care employers, food service of any size) | $16.00 | $16.45on January 1, 2027 | |
| Montgomery CountyLarge employers (51 or more employees) | $18.00 | Not posted yetfor July 1, 2027 | Work performed in Montgomery County. Excludes employees exempt under state or federal minimum wage law, and employees under 19 working no more than 20 hours a week.Source: Montgomery County Office of Human Rights |
| Montgomery CountyMid-sized employers (11 to 50 employees; also certain 501(c)(3) and Medicaid home care employers with 11 or more) | $16.50 | Not posted yetfor July 1, 2027 | |
| Montgomery CountySmall employers (10 or fewer employees) | $15.95 | Not posted yetfor July 1, 2027 | |
| Prince George’s County | $15.30 | Not posted yetfor January 1, 2027 | Any employee of any employer in the county, including a governmental unit. Excludes those exempt under Maryland Wage and Hour Law or the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and individuals under 19 employed no more than 20 hours a week.The Maryland Department of Labor lists $15.30 as of July 1, 2026.Sources: Maryland Department of Labor, Prince George’s County |
Maryland minimum wage by date
| Effective | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024Current | $15.00 | $3.63 | Single rate for all employer sizes. No increase or indexing scheduled. Employees of certain establishments selling food and drink for on-premises consumption and grossing under $400,000 a year are exempt from the state minimum wage (the federal minimum wage may still apply).source |
| January 1, 2023 | $13.25 | $3.63 | Employers with 15 or more employees; smaller employers paid $12.80.source |
Other Maryland rates
Workers under 18
Employees under 18 may be paid 85% of the state minimum wage.
Today: $12.75
Other Maryland pay rules
- Paydays
- At least every two weeks or twice a month. Executive, administrative and professional employees may be paid less often.
- Overtime
- Most employees get time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. Under state law, employees of bowling alleys and non-hospital residential care institutions get it after 48 hours, though federal law may still require it after 40. Agricultural workers who are not otherwise exempt get it after 60 hours.
- Final paycheck
- Fired: By the next regular payday. Quit: By the next regular payday.
From the Maryland Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor’s state tables. All Maryland employer rules.
Minimum wage in states next to Maryland
If you hire across a state line, the worker’s state sets the rate.
| State | Today | Next change |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $15.00 | None scheduled |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | Not yet announced |
| Delaware | $15.00 | None scheduled |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $13.75 on January 1, 2027 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | None scheduled |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | None scheduled |
Questions employers ask
What is the minimum wage in Maryland in 2026?
Maryland’s minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2024, according to the Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Maryland?
Employers may pay tipped employees $3.63 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $15.00.
When does the Maryland minimum wage go up next?
No increase is scheduled under current Maryland law. Any change would need new legislation or a ballot measure.
Do cities in Maryland have a higher minimum wage?
Yes. Montgomery County, Howard County and Prince George’s County set higher local rates (Montgomery County’s adjusts every July 1). Today’s local rates: Howard County $16.00 an hour, Montgomery County $15.95 to $18.00 by employer and Prince George’s County $15.30.
Does Maryland require overtime pay?
Most employees get time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. Under state law, employees of bowling alleys and non-hospital residential care institutions get it after 48 hours, though federal law may still require it after 40. Agricultural workers who are not otherwise exempt get it after 60 hours.
Compare every state’s minimum wage · Everything employers in Maryland must do
Sources
- Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, historical table (September 30, 2023), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 8, 2026)
- Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law: Selected Years 1968 to 2024, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 8, 2026)
- Minimum Wage Increase, Howard County (read Nov 8, 2026)
- Minimum Wage and Other Requirements: Howard County (poster, revised 9/1/2026), Maryland Department of Labor (read Nov 8, 2026)
- Minimum Wage Increase, Montgomery County Office of Human Rights (read Nov 8, 2026)
- Minimum Wage and Other Requirements: Montgomery County (poster), Maryland Department of Labor (read Nov 8, 2026)
- Minimum Wage and Other Requirements: Prince George’s County (poster), Maryland Department of Labor (read Nov 8, 2026)
- County Code Sec. 13A-117, Prince George’s County (read Nov 8, 2026)