Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law - Employment Standards Service (ESS) - Division of Labor and Industry
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Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law - Employment Standards Service (ESS)
Maryland Minimum Wage
Most employees must be paid at least the Maryland State Minimum Wage Rate of $15 per hour, but there are some exemptions.
Employees under 18 years of age must earn at least 85% of the State Minimum Wage Rate.
Some counties have higher minimum wage rates and additional rules and exemptions.
Exemptions
Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County Minimum Wage Laws
Minimum Wage Posters
Tipped Employees
Tipped Employees (earning more than $30 per month in tips) must still earn at least the State Minimum Wage Rate per hour. Employers must pay at least $3.63 per hour. This amount plus tips must equal at least the State Minimum Wage Rate, and employers must cover any gap.
Restaurants that rely on tips to reach minimum wage must give employees a written or electronic wage statement for each pay period showing the employee’s effective hourly rate of pay, including employer-paid cash wages plus tips. This is called a Tip Credit Wage Statement.
Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions
Overtime
Most employees must be paid 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for all hours worked over 40 per week.
Under Maryland law, employees of bowling alleys, and those who work for non-hospital residential care institutions (such as certain nursing homes, assisted living, or group homes for individuals with mental or intellectual disabilities who live at the institution) must be paid 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for all hours worked over 48 per week. Federal law may require such employers to pay employees 1.5 times their usual hourly rate after 40 hours per week even when Maryland law requires it only after 48 hours.
Agricultural workers who are not otherwise exempt from Maryland law must be paid 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for all hours worked over 60 per week.
Exemptions
Minimum Wage and Overtime Exemptions:
Immediate family member of the employer
Certain agricultural employees
Employees who meet the federal Fair Labor Standards Act’s definitions of administrative, executive, or professional
Volunteers for educational, charitable, religious, and non-profit organizations
Employees under 16 working less than 20 hours per week
Outside salespeople
Employees paid on a commission basis
Employees enrolled as trainees as part of a public school special education program
Non-administrative employees of organized camps
Employees of certain establishments selling food and drink for consumption on the premises grossing less than $400,000 annually
Employees of drive-in theaters
Employees of establishments engaged in the canning, packing, freezing, or first processing of fruits, vegetables, poultry, or seafood
Employees covered by the Secure Maryland Wage Act
Certain minor league baseball players
Overtime-Only Exemptions (must earn the State Minimum Wage Rate):
Taxicab drivers
Certain employees selling/servicing automobiles, farm equipment, trailers, or trucks
Employees of a non-profit concert promoter, theater, music festival, music pavilion, or theatrical show
Employees of employers subject to certain railroad requirements of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Act, and the Interstate Commerce Commission
Employees of seasonal amusement and recreational establishments that meet certain criteria
County Minimum Wage Laws
Howard County Minimum Wage
As of July 1, 2026, all employers (regardless of size) must pay at least $16.00 per hour.
Montgomery County Minimum Wage
As of July 1, 2026*:
Large employers (51 or more employees) must pay at least $18.00 per hour.
Mid-sized employers** (11 to 50 employees) must pay at least $16.50 per hour.
Small employers (10 or fewer employees) must pay at least $15.95 per hour.
*Future rates are increased each July 1 by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for Washington-Baltimore, or a successor index, for the previous calendar year.
**Certain non-profit organizations and Medicaid-funded home care providers are subject to the mid-sized rate even if they employ more than 51 employees. That is because Montgomery County law defines mid-sized employer to mean:
an employer who employs between 11 and 50 employees; or
an employer who employs 11 or more employees and:
has tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; or
provides “home health services” as defined by 42 C.F.R. § 440.70 or “home or community-based services” as defined by 42 C.F.R. § 440.180, and receives at least 75% of gross revenues through state and federal Medicaid programs.
Exclusions
The County minimum wage does not apply to an employee who:
is exempt from the minimum wage requirements of the State or Federal Act; or
is under 19 years of age and is employed no more than 20 hours per week.
Younger Workers
An employer may pay a wage equal to 85% of the County minimum wage to an employee under 20 years of age for the first six months that the employee is employed.
Tipped Employees
Employers must pay tipped employees at least $4.00 per hour. Direct pay plus tips must equal at least the applicable minimum wage rate listed above. Restaurants that rely on tips to reach minimum wage must give employees a Tip Credit Wage Statement.
More information on the Montgomery County Minimum Wage
Prince George’s County Minimum Wage
As of July 1, 2026, all employers (regardless of size) must pay at least $15.30 per hour.
Resources
Posters
The posters below reflect law updates.
Download Adobe Acrobat for free.
Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law (pdf)
La Ley de Maryland Salario Mínimo y Tiempo Extra (pdf)
Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law for Montgomery County (pdf)
La Ley de Montgomery County Salario Mínimo y Tiempo Extra (pdf)
Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime for Howard County (pdf)
La Ley de Howard County Salario Minimo y Tiempo Extra (pdf)
Additional Information
Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Wage Issues - Having Problems with Your Pay?
More information on the Montgomery County Minimum Wage
Labor and Employment Article, Title 3, Subtitle 4, Annotated Code of Maryland
Contact Us
For more information or to file a complaint, contact:
Division of Labor and Industry
Wage and Labor Standards
10946 Golden West Drive, Suite 160
Hunt Valley, MD 21031
Phone: 410-767-2357
Email: [email protected]
Maryland Department of Labor
100 S. Charles Street, Tower I, Baltimore, MD 21201
Dial 7-1-1 to place a call through Maryland Relay
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