A key area for those that 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. The Maryland state minimum wage increased by $0.75 in January 2023, from $12.50 (2022) to $13.25 per hour in 2023. This represents a 6% increase from 2022 to 2023.
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. The Maryland state minimum wage is higher than most, however, 21 states still use the federal minimum wage. This is the tenth highest of all 50 states. If you would like to see the top 10 highest state minimum wage rates by state, then head over to our page that is dedicated to this.
The Maryland minimum wage is set to increase even more over the next 4 years, with pre-determined increases set to take place each year, all the way through 2025 when it will hit $15.00 per hour. 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.
Did the Maryland Minimum Wage Go Up? 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.
If you are a full-time worker on minimum wage in Florida, your earnings could be as follows:
- Weekly Minimum Wage: $530 (based on a 40-hour week).
- Yearly Minimum Wage: $27,560 (based on being paid 52 weeks per year.
You can view and download the Maryland state minimum wage labor law poster for 2022-2023 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.
Maryland Future Minimum Wage Rates (Schedule)
Maryland will see a significant minimum wage increase over the next several years as lawmakers signed in a new policy in 2019 to raise Maryland’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. The Maryland minimum wage increase is as follows:
- January 1, 2022 – $12.50
- January 1, 2023 – $13.25
- January 1, 2024 – $14.00
- January 1, 2025 – $15.00
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.
The minimum wage for companies with 15 or more employees will have to pay a minimum wage of $15 per hour by 2025 and companies with 14 or fewer will have to pay $15 per hour by 2026. 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 provides the current rate and history of Florida’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.
| State | Wage | $ Wage Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2023 | $13.25 | $0.75 | 6% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2022 | $12.50 | $0.75 | 6.4% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2021 | $11.75 | $0.75 | 6.8% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2020 | $11.00 | $0.90 | 8.9% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2019 | $10.10 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2018 | $10.10 | $0.85 | 9.2% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2017 | $9.25 | $0.50 | 5.7% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2016 | $8.75 | $0.75 | 9.4% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2015 | $8.00 | $0.75 | 10.3% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2014 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2013 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2012 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2011 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2010 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2009 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2008 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2007 | $6.15 | $1.00 | 19.41% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2006 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2005 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2004 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2003 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2002 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2001 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 2000 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1999 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1998 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1997 | $5.15 | $0.40 | 8.42% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1996 | $4.75 | $0.50 | 11.76% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1995 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1994 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1993 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1992 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1991 | $4.25 | $0.45 | 11.84% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1990 | $3.80 | $0.45 | 13.43% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1989 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1988 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1987 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1986 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1985 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1984 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| Maryland Minimum Wage 1983 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
Maryland Minimum Wage History for the Past 10+ Years – Downloadable PDF Below
Maryland Minimum Wage History – Downloadable PDF
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 $11.26 per hour in 2023.
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 $13.25 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 2023 Maryland minimum wage of $13.25 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 $9.62 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.
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 $19.88 per hour, which is 1.5 times the minimum wage of $13.25 per hour.
