Maryland Minimum Wage — As of January 1, 2024, the minimum wage in Maryland is $15.00 per hour for all employers, after the Fair Wage Act of 2023 sped up the state’s phase-in schedule. No state-level increase is scheduled for 2027, but local laws can pay more: Montgomery County and Howard County set higher minimums (for example, $18.00 per hour at large Montgomery County employers since July 1, 2026). Tipped employees may be paid a cash wage of $3.63 per hour, but their tips must bring total hourly pay to at least $15.00 — the employer owes the difference if they fall short.
Recordkeeping
Each employer shall keep, for at least 3 years, in or about the place of employment, a record of the name, address, and occupation of each employee; the rate of pay of each employee; the amount that is paid each pay period to each employee, and; the hours that each employee works each day and workweek.
Frequency of Pay
Employees in Maryland must be paid at least once every two weeks or twice in a month. However, some executive, administrative and professional employees may be paid less frequently.
Last Paycheck
Each employer shall pay an employee, or the authorized representative of an employee, all wages due for work that the employee performed before the termination of employment, on or before the day on which the employee would have been paid the wages if the employment had not terminated.
Wages Paid on Time
Generally, an employer must set regular paydays, and pay all earned wages of an employee on time regardless of whether the employee has turned in a time sheet or punch card, quit without notice, or provided any other form or document required by the employer. In addition, earned wages must be paid on time whether or not the employer has received payment from a customer or client for a job on which the employee worked.
If payday falls on a nonwork day, such as a weekend or holiday, wages must be paid on the preceding workday.
Maryland’s own wage-and-hour law requires time and a half (1.5x your regular rate) for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, with no daily overtime rule; agricultural workers are the exception, earning overtime only after 60 hours. Maryland also lets underpaid workers recover up to triple their lost wages. If your employer isn’t paying you correctly, contact Frisch Law Firm for a free consultation.
