Maryland’s scheduled minimum wage hike kicked in earlier this month, rising from $10.10 per hour to $11 per hour.
Maryland’s scheduled minimum wage hike kicked in earlier this month, rising from $10.10 per hour to $11 per hour.
The increase comes as part of legislation passed last year over Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto that will gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025 for businesses with 15 or more employees. Maryland businesses with less than 15 employees will have to raise their wages to $15 per hour by 2026. Businesses that employ teens under the age of 18 may pay them 85 percent of the state’s minimum wage.
For businesses with 15 or more employees, the minimum wage will increase by 75 cents each year until January 2025, while businesses with less than 15 employees will see increases of 60 cents per year until January 2026, after which there will be a one time increase of 40 cents in July of 2026.
Small business employers should note that some localities have their own minimum wages that are greater than the state-mandated minimum. Montgomery County raised its minimum wage to $13 per hour for businesses with over 50 employees and to $12.50 for small and mid-sized employers in July. Like the state, the minimum will rise annually. Prince George’s County increased its minimum wage to $11.50 per hour earlier this year.
