EMPLOYMENT LAW NEWS
Maryland’s Minimum Wage Landscape in 2026
By GovDocs
Updated January 2026
In 2026, Maryland’s minimum wage remains $15 statewide due to frozen state rates, while several counties maintain higher, tiered minimum wages with scheduled future increases that employers must carefully track.
Under Maryland’s Fair Wage Act, employers are required to pay a minimum wage of $15 per hour.
Maryland’s Minimum Wage History
Maryland hit the $15 benchmark a bit sooner than expected.
Back in 2019, Maryland legislators originally passed a minimum wage law where large employers (those with 15 or more workers) were previously set to reach $15 on Jan. 1, 2025, and small employers (those with less than 15 workers) on Jan. 1, 2026.
However, following new legislation, Maryland’s minimum wage reached $15 for employers of all sizes a year earlier, or Jan. 1, 2024, up from the previous year’s rate of $13.25.
Notably, the new legislation did not change the tipped employee wage, with the tipped rate continuing to remain at $3.63.
Meanwhile, the new legislation also eliminated future rate increases. Accordingly, Maryland’s state-level minimum wage has remained at $15 per hour for the last two years, and it will remain there unless new legislation is passed.
Minimum Wage in Maryland Counties
As a reminder, three counties in Maryland also have their own minimum wage rates. As of Jan. 1, 2026, the county minimum wage rates are as follows:
Howard County
- $16.00 – large employers
- $15.00 – small employers
- $3.63 – tipped employees
Montgomery County
- $17.65 – large employers (51 or more employees)
- $16.00 – medium-sized employers (11-50 employees)
- $15.50 – small employers (10 or fewer employees)
- $4.00 – tipped employees
Prince George’s County
- $15.30
- TBD – tipped employees
Note that minimum wage rates for Montgomery County will increase again on July 1, 2026, and Howard County and Prince George’s County will increase again on Jan. 1, 2027.
Keep Informed
with GovDocs Employment Law News
Conclusion
Maryland’s minimum wage landscape underscores the complexities of managing rates across the U.S. From indexed rates to ballot measures, industry-specific rates and more, the challenges of managing minimum wage continue to grow. Employers of all sizes with locations in Maryland in certain local jurisdictions should get set for regularly scheduled minimum wage rate increases in 2026.
This Employment Law News blog is intended for market awareness only, it is not to be used for legal advice or counsel.
Who is GovDocs?
GovDocs is a leading provider of employment law compliance solutions, empowering HR professionals to navigate complex, location-specific labor law postings, minimum wage requirements, and paid leave laws. GovDocs combines innovative technology with dedicated human-touch support to deliver worry-free compliance. Customers benefit from access to a centralized system, trusted resources, and expert employment law support they need, all in one place, to simplify compliance and protect their organization from risk. Trusted by over 35% of Fortune 500 companies, GovDocs focuses on comprehensive coverage of Federal, State, City, and County laws making employment law management seamless for organizations of all sizes. Join the evolution of employment law compliance here!
The GovDocs Poster Store simplifies posting compliance for employers with less than 30 locations across all industries, offering a variety of posting products to meet your labor law compliance needs.
