Maryland Minimum Wage 2026
Last updated: · Source: Maryland Department of Labor
Maryland · Minimum Wage 2026
Effective 2024-01-01
Data last verified: 2026-07-09
Tipped Rate
$3.63/hr
Tip Credit
$11.37/hr
Exempt Salary
$684/wk
Effective Date
2024-01-01
Maryland Wage Calculator
Current Maryland Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Maryland is $15.00 per hour in 2026, effective 2024-01-01. This is above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers must pay the higher of the two rates, so the Maryland rate applies. See the federal minimum wage page for how the FLSA floor applies nationwide.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay the highest minimum wage that legally applies to a work location, whether set federally, by the state, or by a city or county ordinance.
Maryland Tipped Minimum Wage
In Maryland, tipped employees may be paid a direct cash wage of $3.63/hr. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $11.37/hr, but the employee's total hourly earnings (direct wages + tips) must equal at least the full minimum wage of $15.00/hr. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
| Component | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cash wage | $3.63/hr | Minimum employer must pay directly |
| Tip credit | $11.37/hr | Maximum credit employer may claim |
| Total required | $15.00/hr | Wages + tips must reach this floor |
Maryland Exempt Employee Salary Threshold (2026)
An "exempt" employee is a salaried worker who, by law, isn't entitled to overtime pay (time-and-a-half) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Whether a salaried employee actually qualifies as exempt depends on both their pay and their job duties. Maryland follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. To qualify for the white-collar (executive, administrative, or professional) overtime exemption, salaried employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) in 2026.
City & County Minimum Wages in Maryland
Maryland permits cities and counties to set higher local minimum wage rates. The following cities have rates above the state minimum:
| City / County | 2026 Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Maryland's $15.00 state minimum wage; Baltimore City has no separate minimum wage ordinance. |
| Rockville | $18.00/hr | Located in Montgomery County, which sets its own minimum wage; large employers (51+ employees) must pay $18.00/hr effective July 1, 2026. |
| Columbia | $16.00/hr | Located in Howard County, which set a uniform county minimum wage of $16.00/hr for all employers, regardless of size, effective July 1, 2026. |
| Hyattsville | $15.30/hr | Located in Prince George's County, which set a county minimum wage of $15.30/hr effective January 1, 2026. |
Maryland Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in Maryland over the past several years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $15.00/hr | 2024-01-01 | |
| 2023 | $13.25/hr | 2023-01-01 | |
| 2020 | $11.00/hr | 2020-01-01 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in Maryland is $15.00 per hour in 2026, effective 2024-01-01. Tipped employees may be paid $3.63 per hour provided tips bring total earnings to at least $15.00/hr.
Maryland's statewide minimum wage remains $15.00/hr in 2026 (reached January 1, 2024 under the accelerated Fair Wage Act of 2023). Montgomery, Howard, and Prince George's Counties set higher local rates, with county rates now adjusting annually each July 1 via CPI-W.
In Maryland, tipped employees must be paid at least $3.63 per hour directly. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $11.37/hr, but total compensation including tips must reach $15.00/hr.
Maryland follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. Salaried exempt employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) to qualify for the white-collar overtime exemption in 2026.
Yes, some cities in Maryland set higher local minimum wage rates. Rockville: $18.00/hr, Columbia: $16.00/hr, Hyattsville: $15.30/hr.