Employment & Worker Protection · Maine
Maine Minimum Wage
26 M.R.S. 664 - enacted in Maine.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2016
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 34/100
- Maine strictness
The bottom line
Maine Minimum Wage is an enacted law in Maine, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2025-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 34/100
- Maine strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Maine legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Maine Minimum Wage
Maine Minimum Wage (26 M.R.S. 664) is an enacted law in Maine under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2016-11-08 and becomes effective on 2025-01-01. Maine currently reports 2 tracked regulations with 2 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 34/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Maine within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in 26 M.R.S. 664 itself.
Applicability under Maine Minimum Wage: All Maine employers except federal. Penalty exposure is documented as: Dept of Labor enforcement. Private right of action. Notable exemptions: Agriculture (limited), outside salespeople..
Summary
Maine minimum wage $14.65/hr (2025). Annually CPI-indexed. Tipped workers: $7.33/hr (50% of minimum).
Key Requirements
$14.65/hr (2025). Tipped: 50% of minimum (no less than $7.33). Annual CPI adjustment after 2019.
Penalties
Dept of Labor enforcement. Private right of action.
Applicability
All Maine employers except federal.
Exemptions
Agriculture (limited), outside salespeople.
Official Source
https://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/minimum_wage.shtmlHow Maine compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Maine ranks #22 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Maine is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Maine Minimum Wage enacted?
Maine Minimum Wage was enacted on 2016-11-08 and became effective on 2025-01-01. It was introduced as 26 M.R.S. 664.
What are the penalties for violating Maine Minimum Wage?
Dept of Labor enforcement. Private right of action. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Maine Minimum Wage apply to small businesses?
All Maine employers except federal. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Maine compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Maine has a regulatory strictness score of 34/100, based on 2 enacted regulations out of 2 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Maine Minimum Wage?
The official text of Maine Minimum Wage (26 M.R.S. 664) is available from the Maine legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Plain-language guides to help you understand the broader regulatory landscape.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Maine Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Maine Minimum Wage is enacted in Maine, effective 2025-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Maine ranks #22 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Maine tracks across all five policy areas. Maine profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Maine source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.