2025 Maine Minimum Wage
The 2025 Maine Minimum Wage is $14.65.
Effective 2025-01-01Source: Maine's Minimum Wage to Increase to $14.65 Per Hour in 2025 (Maine Department of Labor)Verified 2026-08-31
Compared with 2024
| Item | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $14.15 | $14.65 | +$0.50 (+3.5%) |
Who it applies to
Employers and employees in Maine subject to the state minimum wage
What changed this year, and why
Maine's state minimum wage increases from $14.15 to $14.65 per hour
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Maine in 2025?
- Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in Maine is $14.65 per hour.
- What was the minimum wage in Maine in 2024?
- In 2024, the minimum wage in Maine was $14.15 per hour.
- Why did the minimum wage increase?
- Maine law requires annual adjustments to the minimum wage based on the cost-of-living index (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region.
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
Maine's minimum wage of $14.65 per hour applies statewide, but some cities and towns may set a higher local minimum wage. The poster specifically mentions Bangor and Portland as municipalities that have passed local minimum wage ordinances, and notes that any other municipality in Maine could do the same. Workers in these areas must be paid at least the local rate if it exceeds the state minimum. Employers with workers in multiple locations need to check each city's rules to ensure compliance. For information about local rates, workers and employers should contact municipal officials directly rather than relying solely on the state poster. The state minimum remains the floor across Maine, but local governments have the authority to require higher pay for workers within their boundaries.
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, effective January 1, 2025 (rev. 11/24) (Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards)
Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate
Maine law requires that most employees receive overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a workweek. The overtime rate must be at least time and one-half the employee's regular rate of pay. This means that for every hour beyond 40 in a single workweek, the worker earns more per hour than they do during their first 40 hours. Employers have the right to allow or deny overtime, but if overtime is worked, it must be paid at the required premium rate. Private-sector employers in Maine cannot substitute compensatory time off for overtime pay, though they may let employees flex their hours within the same workweek. Some employees are exempt from overtime based on their salary and job duties. The Maine Department of Labor enforces these requirements and may issue citations and penalties to employers who fail to comply. Workers in Maine with questions about overtime pay should contact the Bureau of Labor Standards for guidance.
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 rate of pay.
Minimum Wage poster, effective January 1, 2025 (rev. 11/24) (Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Workers in Maine who have questions about the minimum wage or need to file a wage complaint should contact the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards. The bureau is located at 45 State House Station in Augusta, Maine 04333-0045. The telephone number is 207-623-7900, and TTY users can call Maine Relay at 711. The bureau's website is www.maine.gov/labor/bls, and the email address is bls.mdol@maine.gov. The Department of Labor enforces state wage and hour laws and provides guidance to employers and employees about their rights and obligations under Maine law. Department representatives inspect workplaces to ensure compliance, and citations and penalties may be issued to employers who do not comply. Workers in Maine should reach out to this bureau with any concerns about whether they are receiving the correct minimum wage of $14.65 per hour or if they believe their employer has violated wage and hour laws.
For more information, contact: Maine Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Standards 45 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0045 Telephone: 207-623-7900 TTY users call Maine Relay 711. Web site: www.maine.gov/labor/bls Email: bls.mdol@maine.gov
Minimum Wage poster, effective January 1, 2025 (rev. 11/24) (Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Maine law allows employers to count tips toward the minimum wage for service employees, but there are specific requirements. A service employee is defined as someone who regularly receives more than $185 a month in tips. For these workers, employers must pay a direct cash wage of at least $7.33 per hour as of January 1, 2025. However, if the employee's direct wage combined with earned tips does not average the full state minimum wage on a weekly basis, the employer must pay the difference. This means the total compensation—cash wage plus tips—must equal at least $14.65 per hour for each workweek. The poster does not mention whether the value of meals or lodging can be counted toward the minimum wage in Maine. Employers and employees with questions about whether meals, lodging, or other benefits can be credited toward the minimum wage should contact the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards, for guidance on state law.
A service employee is someone who regularly receives more than $185 a month in tips. As of January 1, 2025, employers must pay a direct service wage of at least $7.33 per hour. 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, effective January 1, 2025 (rev. 11/24) (Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act sets a nationwide minimum wage floor, but when a state establishes a higher minimum wage, the state rate applies to workers in that state. Maine's minimum wage of $14.65 per hour is significantly higher than the federal minimum wage, so Maine workers receive the benefit of the higher state rate. The federal rate would only apply in situations where a state has not set its own minimum wage or has set a rate lower than the federal floor. In those cases, with some limited exceptions, the federal minimum wage rate applies because employers must pay at least the federal minimum. Maine has chosen to provide greater protection for its workers by establishing a state minimum wage that exceeds the federal standard. The note on the Maine poster indicates that employers may also be covered under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and for information about federal requirements, they can contact the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Office.
*Note: 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, effective January 1, 2025 (rev. 11/24) (Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Maine's minimum wage rate is adjusted annually based on changes in the cost of living. The current rate of $14.65 per hour is effective January 1, 2025, as shown on the state's minimum wage poster. The poster does not specify the exact formula or index used to calculate the annual adjustment, such as the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) that many states use. However, the fact that the rate changes each year indicates that Maine uses a cost-of-living adjustment mechanism to maintain the purchasing power of the minimum wage over time. The Maine Department of Labor administers the state's minimum wage laws and would announce the new rate each year. Employers and workers in Maine should check with the department or visit the department's webpage at the start of each year to confirm the current minimum wage rate, as it may increase annually based on inflation.
Minimum Wage is $14.65 per hour effective January 1, 2025
Minimum Wage poster, effective January 1, 2025 (rev. 11/24) (Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards)
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.
Maine's Minimum Wage to Increase to $14.65 Per Hour in 2025 (Maine Department of Labor)
- Hourly
The employer must be able to show that the employee receives at least the minimum wage of $14.65 per hour when the direct wage and tips are combined at the end of the week.
Other years
Every Maine Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state