Minimum wage in Maryland in 2026
The minimum wage in Maryland is $15.00 an hour in 2026, and up to $18.00 in Montgomery County. No increase is scheduled in state law.
Checked against official sources.
Maryland minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $15.00
- A week, 40 hours
- $600.00
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $31,200
- Tipped cash wage
- $3.63before tips
In effect since . A year means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before taxes.
Local minimum wages in Maryland
These places set their own, higher minimum wage. If you work there, your employer must pay the local rate.
| Place | Minimum wage | Since | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | $18.00 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| Howard County | $16.00 | January 1, 2025 | $16.45 on January 1, 2027 |
| Prince George's County | $15.30 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
Tipped workers
Employers in Maryland can pay tipped workers as little as $3.63 an hour in cash and count up to $11.37 an hour in tips toward the $15.00 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. A tipped worker gets more than $30 a month in tips.
Who gets a different rate
- Workers under 18: $12.75 an hour. Employers may pay 85% of the state minimum wage
Maryland minimum wage by year
| Year | Rate on January 1 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $12.50 |
| 2023 | $13.25 |
| 2024 | $15.00 |
| 2025 | $15.00 |
| 2026 | $15.00 |
Maryland law set $15.00 from January 1, 2024. It is not indexed and no raise is scheduled.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in Maryland in 2026?
The minimum wage in Maryland is $15.00 an hour in 2026, and up to $18.00 in Montgomery County. No increase is scheduled in state law.
How much is minimum wage a year in Maryland?
At $15.00 an hour, a full-time worker on 40 hours a week earns $600.00 a week and $31,200 a year before taxes.
What is the minimum wage for tipped workers in Maryland?
Employers in Maryland can pay tipped workers as little as $3.63 an hour in cash and count up to $11.37 an hour in tips toward the $15.00 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. A tipped worker gets more than $30 a month in tips.
When does the minimum wage go up in Maryland?
No increase is scheduled in state law. Maryland law set $15.00 from January 1, 2024. It is not indexed and no raise is scheduled.
Which cities in Maryland have a higher minimum wage?
Montgomery County ($18.00), Howard County ($16.00) and Prince George's County ($15.30) have their own minimum wages above the state rate. Workers there get the local rate.
Is there a different minimum wage for some workers in Maryland?
Workers under 18: $12.75 an hour (employers may pay 85% of the state minimum wage).
Minimum wage in other Southern states
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law, Maryland Department of Labor
- Labor and Employment § 3-413, Maryland General Assembly
- Minimum Wage Increase, Montgomery County Office of Human Rights
- Minimum Wage Increase, Howard County Department of Finance
- Minimum wage and other requirements, Prince George's County, Maryland Department of Labor
- State Minimum Wage Laws, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law, 1968 to 2024, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
Laws change. If your pay is below these rates, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.