The minimum wage in Baltimore, Maryland, is $13.25 per hour in 2023.
Baltimore, MD, is one of the most diverse cities in the entire nation, with hundreds of distinct communities across the city.
Baltimore is an enjoyable place to live or visit on vacation due to the constant festivities and celebrations, not to mention the amazing live music and food events.
The graphic below displays the Baltimore minimum wage rate over the past several years, which has been increasing at a consistent and gradual rate each year.
If you scroll to the bottom of the page, we have included a table that shows you the history of the Baltimore minimum for every year since 1983.
The weekly minimum wage in Baltimore equates to $530 ($13.25 x 40) if you are working a full 40-hour week.
There are, however, some exceptions to this hourly wage for student workers, tipped employees, and overtime workers, who may all receive different minimum wage rates.
Baltimore Minimum Wage Exemptions
There are rules and laws to ensure employers are paying their employees the minimum wage or above in Baltimore, Maryland unless they are exempt employees.
Below are the minimum wage rates for exempt employees in Baltimore:
- Baltimore’s minimum wage for tipped employees is $3.63 per hour with a tip credit rate of $9.62.
- Student-workers (full-time high school or college) in Baltimore are paid a minimum wage of $11.26 per hour for up to 20 hours a week. Any more than this, and they are eligible for the full minimum wage of $13.25 per hour.
- The overtime minimum wage in Baltimore is $19.88 per hour for every hour worked over 40 hours per week.
- The minimum wage for employees under 20 years old is $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment. After this, they are eligible for the Baltimore minimum wage rate of $13.25 per hour.
What is the Baltimore Living Wage?
Due to Baltimore being such a large city with a busy and ever-growing population and a competitive job market, you would anticipate the average minimum wage rate to be slightly higher than $13.25 per hour.
However, a ‘living wage’ for Baltimore is calculated based on how much a person needs to pay their bills, food, and general living expenses while living in the city.
So, the living wage for an adult living alone with no children in Baltimore is $17.99 per hour (via Living Wage Calculator), which is $4.74 higher than the minimum wage for the state itself.
Fortunately, certain employers in Baltimore consider this when they contemplate how much they should be paying employees within the city. Taking all of the living expenses into account, the living wage annual salary (for a full-time person) in Baltimore is $37,419.20 before state income tax in Maryland.
Baltimore Living Wage for 1 Adult
Below is a table representing the living wage in Baltimore for a single adult, with different living wages for the additional amount of children they live with and care for.
| Single Adult | 0 Children | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Wage | $17.99 | $38.03 | $48.95 | $64.55 |
| Poverty Wage | $6.53 | $8.80 | $11.07 | $13.34 |
Baltimore Living Wage for 2 Adults
The table below showcases the living wage in Baltimore for 2 adults with only one working, including the costs for the different numbers of children.
| 2 Adults (1 working) | 0 Children | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Wage | $28.97 | $35.68 | $40.57 | $45.30 |
| Poverty Wage | $8.80 | $11.07 | $13.34 | $15.61 |
What is the Average Wage in Baltimore?
Let’s dive in and look at what the average wage is for employees in Baltimore.
According to payscale.com, the average base hourly rate is approximately $21.43 per hour in Baltimore. If you worked full-time (40 hours per week or 2080 hours per year), the average annual income would be approximately $44,574.40.
So, as an employee in Baltimore, you have a decent chance of being paid a higher wage than the minimum wage of $13.25 per hour!
Fortunately, the average wage in Baltimore is just an average calculation, and you could certainly earn more than this when moving to the state.
However, you may be paid even less, with the minimum wage being $13.25 per hour, which is the case for many Servers in Maryland.
If the living wage in Baltimore is $17.99 and the average salary equates to an effective hourly rate of $21.43 per hour, Baltimore is considered a great choice for those seeking a move to the Old Line State.
Baltimore Minimum Wage History
The table below displays the historical minimum wage rates in Baltimore since 1983. As you can see, the table also includes percentage increases and the dollar increase per year.
| Maryland City | Wage | Year | $ Wage Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $13.25 | 2023 | $0.75 | 6% |
| Baltimore | $12.50 | 2022 | $0.75 | 6.4% |
| Baltimore | $11.75 | 2021 | $0.75 | 6.8% |
| Baltimore | $11.00 | 2020 | $0.90 | 8.9% |
| Baltimore | $10.10 | 2019 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $10.10 | 2018 | $0.85 | 9.2% |
| Baltimore | $9.25 | 2017 | $0.50 | 5.7% |
| Baltimore | $8.75 | 2016 | $0.75 | 9.4% |
| Baltimore | $8.00 | 2015 | $0.75 | 10.3% |
| Baltimore | $7.25 | 2014 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $7.25 | 2013 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $7.25 | 2012 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $7.25 | 2011 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $7.25 | 2010 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $7.25 | 2009 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $7.25 | 2008 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $6.15 | 2007 | $1.00 | 19.41% |
| Baltimore | $5.15 | 2006 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $5.15 | 2005 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $5.15 | 2004 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $5.15 | 2003 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $5.15 | 2002 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $5.15 | 2001 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $5.15 | 2000 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $5.15 | 1999 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $5.15 | 1998 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $5.15 | 1997 | $0.40 | 8.42% |
| Baltimore | $4.75 | 1996 | $0.50 | 11.76% |
| Baltimore | $4.25 | 1995 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $4.25 | 1994 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $4.25 | 1993 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $4.25 | 1992 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $4.25 | 1991 | $0.45 | 11.84% |
| Baltimore | $3.80 | 1990 | $0.45 | 13.43% |
| Baltimore | $3.35 | 1989 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $3.35 | 1988 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $3.35 | 1987 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $3.35 | 1986 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $3.35 | 1985 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $3.35 | 1984 | $0 | 0% |
| Baltimore | $3.35 | 1983 | $0 | 0% |
Final Thoughts
The minimum wage in Baltimore is the same rate as the Maryland state minimum wage, following the same hourly wage of $13.25 per hour. As an employee in Baltimore, you must be paid this wage or higher by law.
The living wage is significantly higher than the minimum wage within the city, which is why several Baltimore employers will pay more than $13.25 per hour to their employees despite not being legally obliged to.
