Statewide and local rates
| Jurisdiction / tier | Rate (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland statewide (all employers) | $15.00/hr | Effective January 1, 2024; Fair Wage Act unified all employer sizes |
| Montgomery County — 51+ employees | $18.00/hr* | Effective July 1, 2026 |
| Montgomery County — 11–50 employees | $16.50/hr* | Effective July 1, 2026 |
| Montgomery County — 10 or fewer employees | $15.95/hr* | Effective July 1, 2026 |
| Howard County | $16.00/hr* | Effective July 1, 2026 |
| Prince George's County | $15.30/hr* | Effective January 1, 2026 |
*Local rates are from the TOOL-ASSIGNMENTS research data and may not reflect mid-year adjustments. Verify current local rates directly with the Maryland DLLR or the relevant county. Workers must receive whichever rate — state or local — is higher.
Maryland Fair Wage Act — background
Maryland enacted the Fair Wage Act of 2023 (effective January 1, 2024), which eliminated the prior employer-size distinction and set a single statewide minimum wage of $15.00 per hour for all covered employers. Prior to this, larger employers (15+ employees) had reached $15.00 on January 1, 2023, while smaller employers had a lower floor. The unification is codified in the Labor and Employment Article, Title 3, Subtitle 4, of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
Worked examples
Example 1: statewide rate, full-time week
Example 2: Montgomery County large employer
What this does not determine
- Whether a specific employer is subject to the statewide rate or a higher local county rate.
- Agricultural workers — Maryland has a separate agricultural overtime threshold of 60 hours per week.
- Tipped employee rules — verify current tipped wage rates with the Maryland DLLR.
- Whether an employer or employee is exempt from the Maryland minimum wage law.
- Whether a pending county ordinance change has taken effect after the verification date of this page.
Maryland statute and enforcement
Maryland's minimum wage is found in the Labor and Employment Article, Title 3, Subtitle 4, Annotated Code of Maryland. The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) enforces wage and hour laws. Employees who believe they have been underpaid may file a wage claim with the DLLR at dllr.state.md.us. Maryland imposes a 3-year statute of limitations on wage claims.
Maryland vs. neighboring Virginia
Maryland's statewide $15.00/hr floor is significantly above neighboring Virginia, which has a legislated schedule (approximately $12.77/hr in 2026 rising toward $15.00 by 2028). Maryland's local county ordinances push the effective floor for many workers well above the state minimum — Montgomery County's top tier at $18.00/hr is among the highest effective minimum wages of any jurisdiction east of the Mississippi River.
Sources and verification
The statewide rate and effective date were verified from the Maryland DLLR Wage and Hour Facts page (dllr.state.md.us). Local county rates are from the TOOL-ASSIGNMENTS research compilation dated August 2026; verify local rates directly with county authorities or the DLLR before relying on them for payroll. See the site's methodology for how rates are verified before publication.