Employment & Worker Protection · Maryland
Maryland Minimum Wage Act
Maryland Code, Lab. & Emp. 3-413 - enacted in Maryland.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2023
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 48/100
- Maryland strictness
The bottom line
Maryland Minimum Wage Act is an enacted law in Maryland, 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
- 48/100
- Maryland strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Maryland legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Maryland Minimum Wage Act
Maryland Minimum Wage Act (Maryland Code, Lab. & Emp. 3-413) is an enacted law in Maryland under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2023-01-01 and becomes effective on 2025-01-01. Maryland currently reports 3 tracked regulations with 3 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 48/100 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 Maryland within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in Maryland Code, Lab. & Emp. 3-413 itself.
Applicability under Maryland Minimum Wage Act: All Maryland employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: Dept of Labor enforcement. 3-year back pay period. Notable exemptions: Farm and agricultural workers, domestic service..
Summary
Maryland minimum wage $15.00/hr for all employers (2024 unification). Annually CPI-indexed. Tipped: $3.63/hr.
Key Requirements
$15.00/hr for all employers (large/small unified as of Jan 2024). Tipped: $3.63/hr + tips. Annual CPI indexing.
Penalties
Dept of Labor enforcement. 3-year back pay period.
Applicability
All Maryland employers.
Exemptions
Farm and agricultural workers, domestic service.
Official Source
https://www.labor.maryland.gov/labor/wages/wagehr.shtmlHow Maryland compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Maryland ranks #14 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. Maryland 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 Maryland Minimum Wage Act enacted?
Maryland Minimum Wage Act was enacted on 2023-01-01 and became effective on 2025-01-01. It was introduced as Maryland Code, Lab. & Emp. 3-413.
What are the penalties for violating Maryland Minimum Wage Act?
Dept of Labor enforcement. 3-year back pay period. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Maryland Minimum Wage Act apply to small businesses?
All Maryland employers. 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 Maryland compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Maryland has a regulatory strictness score of 48/100, based on 3 enacted regulations out of 3 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 Maryland Minimum Wage Act?
The official text of Maryland Minimum Wage Act (Maryland Code, Lab. & Emp. 3-413) is available from the Maryland 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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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 Maryland Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Maryland Minimum Wage Act is enacted in Maryland, effective 2025-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Maryland ranks #14 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Maryland tracks across all five policy areas. Maryland 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 Maryland 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.