2019 Maine Minimum Wage
The 2019 Maine Minimum Wage is $11.
Effective 2019-01-01Source: Minimum Wage (poster, rev. 11/18) (Maine Department of Labor)Verified 2026-08-30
Who it applies to
All employers and employees covered by Maine state wage law, including all public and private employers regardless of profit or size, operating in Maine with at least one employee.
What changed this year, and why
Maine's minimum wage increased to $11 per hour.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Maine for 2019?
- Effective January 1, 2019, the minimum wage in Maine is $11 per hour.
- Does this apply to all employers in Maine?
- Yes. Under Maine labor laws, any business operating in the state with one employee is covered, including all public and private employers regardless of profit or size.
- Are there local minimum wage ordinances that differ?
- Employers with employees who work in municipalities such as Bangor or Portland that have passed local minimum wage ordinances may be subject to additional requirements and should check with municipal officials.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
In Maine, the only workers who may receive a direct hourly wage below $11 per hour are service employees—people who regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips. For 2019, the minimum direct wage an employer must pay these tipped workers is $5.50 per hour. However, the employer must track earnings on a weekly basis: if the employee's $5.50 direct wage plus earned tips do not together average at least $11 per hour, the employer must pay the difference. This means no tipped worker in Maine may take home less than the full minimum wage when tips and direct pay are combined. There is no separate subminimum wage for minors or students in Maine's law. Any worker who is not a tipped service employee must receive the full $11 per hour. Questions about whether a particular arrangement is lawful can be directed to the Maine Department of Labor.
A service employee is someone who regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. As of January 1, 2019, employers must pay a direct wage of at least $5.50 per hour to service employees. If the employee’s direct wage combined with earned tips do not average, on a weekly basis, the state required minimum wage, the employer must pay the difference.
Minimum Wage (poster, rev. 11/18) (Maine Department of Labor)
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
Maine's minimum wage of $11 per hour is set by state law, but individual municipalities within the state may establish their own higher minimum wage requirements. The poster specifically identifies Bangor and Portland as cities that may have local minimum wage ordinances. If an employer has employees working in these municipalities, they must comply with whichever rate is higher—the state rate or the local rate. Workers in Maine should check with their municipal officials to determine whether their city has adopted a higher minimum wage than the state floor of $11. Employers with employees in multiple locations must ensure they are paying the correct rate based on where the work is performed. This means that in some parts of Maine, the actual minimum wage workers receive may exceed $11 per hour due to local ordinances.
Employers with employees who work in Bangor and/or Portland or any other municipality that passes a local minimum wage ordinance, may be subject to additional regulations and should check with municipal officials.
Minimum Wage (poster, rev. 11/18) (Maine Department of Labor)
Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate
In Maine, employees who are not specifically exempted must receive overtime pay for all hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek. The premium rate must be at least time and one-half of the employee's regular rate of pay. This means that for every hour past 40 in a workweek, the worker is owed more than their standard hourly wage. Employers in Maine may require or deny overtime work, but when overtime is worked, it must be paid at the premium rate required by state law. Private-sector employers in Maine may not substitute compensatory or "comp" time for overtime wages. However, private employers may allow employees to flex their schedule within the same workweek, as long as the flex does not cross into a separate pay period when that pay period is longer than seven days. The overtime calculation runs on a seven-day workweek cycle. Workers in Maine who believe they have not received proper overtime pay should contact the Maine Department of Labor.
Unless specifically exempted, employees must receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek at a rate not less than time and one-half their regular rates of pay.
Minimum Wage (poster, rev. 11/18) (Maine Department of Labor)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
In Maine, the Department of Labor enforces the state's wage and hour laws, including the minimum wage of $11 per hour. Employers with questions about the law may call 207-623-7900 or visit the department's webpage. The Bureau of Labor Standards, which handles minimum wage and overtime enforcement, is part of the Maine Department of Labor. Workers who believe their employer is not paying the correct minimum wage, failing to provide required pay statements, or violating overtime rules can contact the Bureau to file a complaint. Department representatives inspect workplaces to ensure compliance and may issue citations and penalties to employers who do not follow the law. Because some Maine employers may also be covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Office is also available as a resource for workers who need additional information about federal protections.
The Department of Labor enforces state wage and hour laws. Employers with questions about the law may call 207-623-7900 or may visit the department’s webpage.
Minimum Wage (poster, rev. 11/18) (Maine Department of Labor)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
Maine employers may be covered by both state and federal minimum wage laws. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act sets a national floor, while Maine law establishes its own minimum wage of $11 per hour for 2019. When both laws apply, the employer must pay the higher of the two rates. Since Maine's rate exceeds the federal minimum, workers in Maine receive $11 per hour. The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Office can provide information about federal requirements at 603-666-7716. Employers and employees should understand that compliance with state law does not automatically mean compliance with federal law, and vice versa. Both jurisdictions may conduct inspections and issue penalties for violations. Maine's Department of Labor administers state requirements while the federal Wage and Hour Division oversees FLSA compliance.
Maine employers may also be covered under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. For more information, contact the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Office at 603-666-7716.
Minimum Wage (poster, rev. 11/18) (Maine Department of Labor)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
In Maine, tipped workers are classified as service employees—people who regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips. For these employees, employers may pay a direct wage of at least $5.50 per hour instead of the full minimum wage of $11. However, the employer must ensure that the employee's direct wage plus earned tips together average at least $11 per hour on a weekly basis. If the combined total falls short, the employer must pay the difference. This means no tipped worker in Maine may take home less than the full state minimum wage when tips and direct pay are combined. This poster does not address whether the value of meals or lodging provided by an employer can be credited toward the minimum wage. Workers and employers in Maine who have questions about meal or lodging credits should contact the Maine Department of Labor for guidance on whether and how such credits apply under state law.
A service employee is someone who regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. As of January 1, 2019, employers must pay a direct wage of at least $5.50 per hour to service employees. If the employee’s direct wage combined with earned tips do not average, on a weekly basis, the state required minimum wage, the employer must pay the difference.
Minimum Wage (poster, rev. 11/18) (Maine Department of Labor)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Minimum Wage (poster, rev. 11/18) (Maine Department of Labor)
- Hourly
Minimum Wage is $11.00 per hour effective January 1, 2019
Other years
Every Maine Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state