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HOURLY WAGE INDEX

Let’s talk wages in Maryland

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$15.00

What is the minimum wage in Maryland?

The minimum wage in Maryland is $15.00 per hour for businesses with 15 or more employees, and $12.80 per hour for businesses with fewer than 15 employees. This is set to increase to $14.00 per hour for all businesses on January 1, 2024. The Maryland minimum wage for tipped employees is $3.63 per hour, though this amount plus tips must at least equal Maryland's Minimum Wage Rate.

There are some exceptions to the minimum wage in Maryland. These include:

  • Learners: Employers may pay learners a sub-minimum wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 consecutive calendar days after the learner is initially employed by the employer.
  • Certain workers with physical or mental limitations: Employers may pay sub-minimum wages to workers with physical or mental limitations that limit their ability to do the job.
  • Employees under 18 years old: Employers may pay employees under 18 years old a sub-minimum wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 consecutive calendar days after the employee is initially employed by the employer.
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$35.40

What is the average wage in Maryland?

The average wage in Maryland is $35.40 per hour. The median wage is $20.31 per hour. Wages vary based on experience, education, industry, and other factors.
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$36.06

What is the living wage in Maryland?

The living wage in Maryland is $15.16 per hour. The living wage is the minimum hourly wage necessary to cover the basic costs of living. The living wage is different from the minimum wage, which only covers the basic costs of food and shelter.
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$12.80

What is the minimum wage in Baltimore, Maryland?

The minimum wage in Baltimore is $12.80. That wage was instituted in January 2023.

Wages aren’t everything!

While pay is one of the main factors that hourly employees consider when choosing to join (or stay at) a company, it’s not the end all be all. Research shows that advancement opportunities, supportive management, and schedule flexibility are all incredibly important as well.

Want to learn more about this trend? We dive deep into the data behind which perks and benefits matter most to hourly workers. Check out our full conversation with expert Sara Wasserteil of Cara Collective.

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A guide to hourly labor laws in Maryland

Verified by Legal Counsel Brooke Davis

  • Final Paychecks: By the next regular payday after resignation or termination (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-505).
  • Wage Payment Frequency: Paid regularly, at least twice per month or every two weeks (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-502).
  • Paid Sick Leave: Accrued at a rate of at least one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to at least 40 hours per year. Employers can refuse employees the right to use more than 64 hours per year, use any hours in the first 106 calendar days on the job, accrue more than 64 hours at a time, and other specific instances (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-1304).
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave: In 2026, Maryland's paid family and medical leave insurance (FAMLI) will provide employees up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for themselves or their family, paid at up to $1,000 per week (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 8.3-101 et seq.). The FMLA provides up to 12 unpaid weeks in one year for eligible employees (FMLA).
  • Maximum Daily and Weekly Hours for Children Under 16:
    • School session: No working during required school hours. No more than three hours per day or 18 hours per week.
    • Non-school session: No more than eight hours per day or 40 hours per week.
    • Hours: No working between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., extended until 9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day. No working more than five consecutive hours without an uninterrupted 30 minute break. Employers must obtain a special permit to employ minors (Maryland DoL) (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-201 et seq.) (29 C.F.R. § 570.35).
  • Maximum Daily and Weekly Hours for Children 16 and 17: No working during required school hours. No more than 12 combined hours in school and work per day. At least eight consecutive hours break from school and work in 24 hours. No working more than five consecutive hours without an uninterrupted 30-minute break. Employers must obtain a special permit to employ minors (Maryland DoL) (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-201 et seq.) (29 C.F.R. § 570.35).

 

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between gross wages and net wages?

It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.

What is a good hourly wage?

This question is a difficult one to answer, as a "good hourly wage" is highly subjective according to experience, work responsibilities, cost of living, and other factors. We recommend using Hourly Wage Index data as a starting point. Once you have established a baseline for certain positions, do further research into similar businesses in your area.

Lastly, consider surveying your employees. They're the best resource to help you know what is a good hourly wage, what competitive pay looks like in your location, and how competitive wages change in your industry over time.

Offering competitive pay is one of my top priorities—what other resources do you have that might help?

We know that getting applicants to pay attention to your business can be extremely challenging, and that offering competitive pay is a huge part of that. Wages aren’t everything, however! Applicant experience is another important factor that can help set you apart from your competition. A few examples include:

  • Short, easy to understand job descriptions
  • Mobile-friendliness
  • Quick communication
  • Streamlined interview stages
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A Workstream hiring specialist can help you identify high impact ways to improve your applicant experience, and even help you determine what is a good hourly wage for your location and business.

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Learn about wages in your city

Baltimore Minimum Wage 2024