The Maryland minimum wage in 2024 is $15.00 per hour for employees of the state. This is the result of a January increase when the minimum wage increased by 13.2% from the prior year.
A key area for those who do business in Maryland or those looking to start their own business or franchise in Maryland is understanding the minimum wage and what you are legally obligated to pay.
For those who are employed, it is also important to know your rights and what you should be paid for the work and hours you do.
So, if you are a full-time worker on minimum wage in Maryland, your earnings could be as follows:
- Daily Minimum Wage: $120.00 (based on an 8-hour day)
- Weekly Minimum Wage: $600.00 (based on a 40-hour week).
- Monthly Minimum Wage: $2,600.00 (based on a 160-hour month).
- Yearly Minimum Wage: $31,200.00 (based on being paid 52 weeks per year.
It is important to bear in mind that these earnings are before any state income tax has been deducted.
The Maryland state minimum wage is higher than most – making it into the top 10 list of the highest minimum wage rates by state.
The graphic below highlights the Maryland minimum wage over the past several years. As you can see on the graphic, the Maryland state minimum wage has been going up consistently in recent years.
You can view and download the Maryland state minimum wage labor law poster for 2024 here at no charge. Employers must display an official poster outlining the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ensuring that accurate employee time and pay records are kept.
For some in-depth information regarding laws, and workers’ rights, head over to the Maryland Department of Labor website. There have also been talks about the minimum wage for smaller businesses being lower than for larger businesses.
However, this law is yet to come to fruition. In addition to the statewide minimum wage, we also have a specific page on the minimum wage in Baltimore City, and all of the exemptions and future rates that come with it.
Maryland Minimum Wage History
The table below shows the current rate and history of Maryland’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983.
You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Increase ($) | Increase (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $15.00 | $1.75 | 13.2% |
| 2023 | $13.25 | $0.75 | 6% |
| 2022 | $12.50 | $0.75 | 6.4% |
| 2021 | $11.75 | $0.75 | 6.8% |
| 2020 | $11.00 | $0.90 | 8.9% |
| 2019 | $10.10 | $0 | 0% |
| 2018 | $10.10 | $0.85 | 9.2% |
| 2017 | $9.25 | $0.50 | 5.7% |
| 2016 | $8.75 | $0.75 | 9.4% |
| 2015 | $8.00 | $0.75 | 10.3% |
| 2014 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2013 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2012 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2011 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2010 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2009 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2008 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| 2007 | $6.15 | $1.00 | 19.41% |
| 2006 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2005 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2004 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2003 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 2002 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| 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 | $0.45 | 11.84% |
| 1990 | $3.80 | $0.45 | 13.43% |
| 1989 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1988 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1987 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1986 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1985 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1984 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| 1983 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
Maryland Minimum Wage Exemptions
In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, there are a few Maryland state minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation.
Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.
Maryland Student Minimum Wage
The minimum wage for student employees in Maryland is 85% of the minimum wage, making their hourly pay $12.75 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 Maryland minimum wage rate of $15.00 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 Maryland 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.
Maryland Under 20 Minimum Wage
If you are under 20 years old in Maryland, 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 Maryland minimum wage of $15.00 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.
Maryland Tipped Minimum Wage
If you are a tipped employee in Maryland (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $3.63 per hour, with a tip credit of $11.37 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.
Maryland, like all other states, has a thriving hospitality industry, which creates many tipped employees.
The tipped minimum wage for servers in Maryland is $3.63 per hour, with the rest of the minimum wage being supplemented by tips received – go further down the page for more information on Maryland’s minimum wage exemptions.
Maryland Overtime Minimum Wage
Once you work over 40 hours in a working 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 Maryland is $22.50 per hour, which is 1.5 times the minimum wage of $15.00 per hour.
