Maryland joined the parade of states raising the minimum wage to
the magic number of $15 per hour when the state legislature voted
to override the veto of Governor Larry Hogan on March 28, 2019. The
minimum wage for employers with 15 or more employees will increase
annually commencing January 1, 2020 until it reaches the $15 per
hour level on January 1, 2025. The minimum wage for smaller
employers will increase annually at a slower pace, and reach $15 on
July 1, 2026. The initial increase for all employers effective
January 1, 2020 raises the minimum wage to $11 per hour from the
current $10.10.
Maryland thus joins California, New York, Massachusetts,
Illinois, New Jersey and the District of Columbia in moving to the
$15 minimum wage. Some municipalities, such as Seattle, have also
adopted this wage minimum. In Maryland, Montgomery and Prince
George’s counties have established higher local minimum
wages.
