The Maine state minimum wage for 2024 is $14.15 per hour, after a January increase from the previous rate of $13.80 per hour.
This increase represents a $0.35 increase, which equates to 5.07%, and is one of the biggest minimum wage increases of the year for all states, and also makes Maine’s minimum wage one of the highest in the U.S.
Every state has a specific minimum wage, typically measured via the consumer price index for that state, also taking into account inflation and cost of living.
However, there are still many states that use the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour as a guide on what workers should be paid as a basic minimum wage, fortunately for those working in Maine, this is not the case.
If you are a full-time worker on the Maine state minimum wage, your earnings could be as follows:
- Daily Minimum Wage: $113.20 (based on an 8-hour working day).
- Weekly Minimum Wage: $566.00 (based on a 40-hour week).
- Monthly Minimum Wage: $2,452.66 (based on a full-time month).
- Yearly Minimum Wage: $29,432.00 (based on being paid 52 weeks per year).
Maine Minimum Wage Future Increases
In 2024, the minimum wage increased to $14.15 per hour, which was a $0.35 wage increase from 2023.
Minimum wage increases are usually based on inflation, a rise in the cost of living, and due to everything that transpired over the prior year, it comes as no surprise that Maine, like some other states, has seen a modest, but much-needed increase to the minimum wage.
Below you can see the increases in the minimum wage over the past several years:
Going forward, it doesn’t seem like Maine has any plans to stop increasing the minimum wage each year, which is a positive reflection on the state of the economy in Maine and how it takes care of its workers.
Maine Minimum Wage History
The table below shows the current rate and history of Maine minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983.
You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Increase ($) | Increase (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14.15 | $0.35 | 2.5% |
| 2023 | $13.80 | $1.05 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | $12.75 | $0.60 | 4.9% |
| 2021 | $12.15 | $0.15 | 1.25% |
| 2020 | $12.00 | $1.00 | 9% |
| 2019 | $11.00 | $1.00 | 10% |
| 2018 | $10.00 | $1.00 | 11% |
| 2017 | $9.00 | $1.50 | 20% |
| 2016 | $7.50 | $0 | 0% |
| 2015 | $7.50 | $0 | 0% |
| 2014 | $7.50 | $0 | 0% |
| 2013 | $7.50 | $0 | 0% |
| 2012 | $7.50 | $0 | 0% |
| 2011 | $7.50 | $0 | 0% |
| 2010 | $7.50 | $0.25 | 3.4% |
| 2009 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2008 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2007 | $7.00 | $0.25 | 3.7% |
| 2006 | $6.75 | $0.25 | 3.84% |
| 2005 | $6.50 | $0.15 | 2.36% |
| 2004 | $6.35 | $0.10 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $6.25 | $0.50 | 8.69% |
| 2002 | $5.75 | $0.60 | 11.65% |
| 2001 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2000 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1999 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1998 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 1997 | $5.15 | $0.40 | 8.42% |
| 1996 | $4.75 | $0.50 | 11.76% |
| 1995 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1994 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1993 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1992 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 1991 | $4.25 | $0.40 | 10.38% |
| 1990 | $3.85 | $0.10 | 2.66% |
| 1989 | $3.75 | $0.10 | 2.73% |
| 1988 | $3.65 | $0 | 0% |
| 1987 | $3.65 | $0.10 | 2.81% |
| 1986 | $3.55 | $0.10 | 2.89% |
| 1985 | $3.45 | $0.10 | 2.98% |
| 1984 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1983 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
Exemptions and Subminimum Wage Rates in Maine
In addition to the regular minimum wage rate in Maine, there are a few minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation.
Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.
Maine Student Minimum Wage
The minimum wage for student employees in Maine is 85% of the Maine minimum wage, making their hourly pay $12.02 per hour in 2024.
This hourly rate is for any hours worked up to 20 hours per week. As a student employee, once you surpass 20 hours per week, you will be eligible to be paid the Maine minimum wage rate of $14.15 per hour.
Being a student can be financially challenging, leading many students to pick up part-time jobs to make extra money while studying.
Despite a student minimum wage rate, many Maine employers will not necessarily follow it and pay you equal to or more than the statewide minimum wage.
Many work-study programs are available at universities, which is a route many students go down. Still, coffee shop, cafe, bar, and restaurant jobs are commonly taken by students as they can work them into their class schedule.
Maine Under 20 Minimum Wage
If you are under 20 years old in Maine, federal law allows your employer to pay you as little as $4.25 per hour for your first 90 days of employment.
Once the 90-day period is over, you will be eligible to be paid the 2024 Maine minimum wage of $14.15 per hour or potentially even more.
Fortunately for young workers, this is 90 calendar days and not 90 working days; therefore, it can be completed relatively quickly and within about three months.
Maine Tipped Minimum Wage
If you are a tipped employee in Maine (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $7.08 per hour, with a tip credit of $7.07 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.
Maine Overtime Minimum Wage
Once you work over 40 hours a week, you are eligible to be paid an overtime rate of 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour you work past 40. So, the overtime minimum wage in Maine is $21.23 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $14.15 per hour.
Maine Employment Types Exempt From Minimum Wage
If you are an employee working under one of the following job roles, you are also exempt from the Maine minimum wage; bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees.
Maine Minimum Wage Exemptions History Table
Below is a table consisting of the Maine minimum wage exemptions, including some historic rates for reference:
| Maine Minimum Wage Exemption | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tipped Minimum Wage | $6.90 | $6.38 | $6.08 | $6.00 | $5.50 |
| Overtime Minimum Wage | $20.70 | $19.12 | $18.22 | $18.00 | $16.50 |
| Under 20 Minimum Wage | $4.25 | $4.25 | $4.25 | $4.25 | $4.25 |
| Student Minimum Wage | $11.73 | $10.84 | $10.33 | $10.20 | $9.35 |
Maine Labor Law Poster and Department of Labor Contact Details
As a Maine employer, you need to keep yourself compliant with the law. To do this, you need to display a Maine Labor Law poster in a prominent place.
The good news is that you can acquire one of these posters for free from the Department of Labor website, and download it.
If you wish to contact the department directly, here are all of the contact details you need:
Maine Department of Labor:
54 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0054
Telephone: 207-623-7900
Email: division.uctax@maine.gov
