Maryland minimum wage 2027: stays $15.00 an hour

Maryland minimum wage 2027: no increase scheduled in 2027: $15.00 per hour since January 1, 2024 (Md. Lab. & Empl. §3-413 (MGA); Maryland Department of Labor wage page). Verified Nov 12, 2026 on two official pages.

“(i) for the 12–month period beginning January 1, 2023, $13.25 per hour; and (ii) beginning January 1, 2024, $15.00 per hour.”

Second official source: “Most employees must be paid at least the Maryland State Minimum Wage Rate of $15 per hour, but there are some exemptions.” (Maryland Department of Labor wage page).

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What changes for Maryland employers in 2027

Rate in force now: Maryland's state minimum wage is $15.00 per hour. (Maryland minimum wage law (DOL WHD state minimum wage table, updated July 1, 2026); Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law; verified Sep 27, 2026).

Other Maryland minimum rates

• Small employers (14 or fewer employees): “(2) The State minimum wage rate for a small employer is: (i) for the 12–month period beginning January 1, 2023, $12.80 per hour; and (ii) beginning January 1, 2024, $15.00 per hour.” (Md. Lab. & Empl. §3-413 (MGA))
• Employees under 18: “Employees under 18 years of age must earn at least 85% of the State Minimum Wage Rate.” (Maryland Department of Labor wage page)
• 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.” (Maryland Department of Labor wage page)

How we checked that nothing changes in 2027

• The statute as published by the Maryland General Assembly on November 12, 2026 sets $15.00 from January 1, 2024 and no later step or indexing (Md. Lab. & Empl. §3-413 (MGA)).
• Maryland's November 3, 2026 ballot had three statewide questions (state employee arbitration, the Commission on Judicial Disabilities, election districts) and none on the minimum wage (unofficial results, refreshed November 12, 2026) (Maryland State Board of Elections).

Paying the minimum wage in Maryland: paydays, final pay and breaks

• Paydays: Employers must set regular pay periods and pay each employee at least once every 2 weeks or twice each month (bi-weekly or semi-monthly); administrative, executive or professional employees may be paid less frequently. (Maryland payday law (DOL WHD State Payday Requirements table); Md. Code, Labor and Employment §3-502(a); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Final pay after a firing: When employment ends, the employer must pay all wages due for work performed before termination on or before the day the employee would have been paid had the employment not ended. (Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3-505(a); Maryland Division of Labor and Industry, Termination Pay; verified Sep 24, 2026)
• Final pay after a resignation: When employment ends, the employer must pay all wages due for work performed before termination on or before the day the employee would have been paid had the employment not ended. (Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3-505(a); Maryland Division of Labor and Industry, Termination Pay; verified Sep 24, 2026)
• Meal breaks (retail 4 to 6 hours): Covered large retail employers (see notes) must provide a nonworking shift break of at least 15 minutes for 4 to 6 consecutive hours worked. (Maryland Healthy Retail Employee Act (DOL WHD meal period table); Md. Code, Labor and Employment §3-710(c)(1); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Meal breaks (retail 8 plus hours additional): If a covered retail employee works 8 consecutive hours, the employer must provide an additional nonworking shift break of at least 15 minutes for every additional 4 consecutive hours worked. (Maryland Healthy Retail Employee Act (DOL WHD meal period table); Md. Code, Labor and Employment §3-710(c)(3); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Meal breaks (retail over 6 hours): Covered retail employers must provide a nonworking shift break of at least 30 minutes for more than 6 consecutive hours worked. (Maryland Healthy Retail Employee Act (DOL WHD meal period table); Md. Code, Labor and Employment §3-710(c)(2); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Rest breaks: No state requirement for paid rest periods for adult private-sector employees. (DOL WHD Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements table, footnote 1; Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards (Breaks, Benefits and Days Off); verified Sep 27, 2026)

Every verified rule for the state, with the law cited: Maryland employer rulebook.

Exempt salary threshold in 2027: Federal $684 a week ($35,568 a year); no higher state threshold found (U.S. DOL thresholds page; eCFR 29 CFR 541.600) Verified Oct 21, 2026

Later in 2027: Montgomery County, MD: Pending verification from July 1, 2027 (pending verification; montgomerycountymd.gov).

Other Maryland changes with a 2027 date, from the 2027 list:

• Maryland: Paid family and medical leave contributions: 0.9% of wages up to SS wage base (0.45% employer / 0.45% employee) from January 1, 2027 (confirmed; paidleave.maryland.gov)

Each change with its official text: Maryland rules.

Maryland minimum wage rates: now, 2027 and next

2027 minimum wage: Maryland and neighboring states

Each state links to its rulebook, and to its own 2027 minimum wage page where we have one. The same rows, for every state, are in the 2027 table by state.

How to act on it

Full-time pay at the rate in 2027 (computed: hourly rate × 40 hours a week and × 2,080 hours a year, before taxes): $15.00 = $600.00 a week, $31,200 a year.

Questions about the Maryland minimum wage in 2027

Sources (23)

• Md. Lab. & Empl. §3-413 (MGA)
• Maryland Department of Labor wage page
• montgomerycountymd.gov
• Maryland minimum wage law (DOL WHD state minimum wage table, updated July 1, 2026)
• U.S. DOL thresholds page
• eCFR 29 CFR 541.600
• Maryland State Board of Elections
• Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law
• Maryland payday law (DOL WHD State Payday Requirements table)
• Md. Code, Labor and Employment §3-502(a)
• Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3-505(a)
• Maryland Division of Labor and Industry, Termination Pay
• Maryland Healthy Retail Employee Act (DOL WHD meal period table)
• Md. Code, Labor and Employment §3-710(c)(1)
• DOL WHD Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements table, footnote 1
• Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards (Breaks, Benefits and Days Off)
• paidleave.maryland.gov
• U.S. DOL minimum wage page
• 29 U.S.C. §206 (govinfo)
• Virginia DOLI home page
• PA L&I minimum wage report 2025
• Delaware DOL Wage & Hour page
• DC OAG Wage and Hour Laws page

Checked Nov 12, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error

Where this goes next

StateMaryland employer rulebookAll 51 statesMinimum wage by state 20272027Every Maryland change in 2027ToolMaryland paycheck calculator