Maine labor laws for hourly staff: minimum wage, breaks and minors
Maine's basic minimum wage is $15.10 per hour, as listed by the US Department of Labor (updated November 5, 2026). The DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a meal-period requirement for adult private-sector employees for Maine, and its rest-period table does not list a paid rest-period requirement (the DOL notes: states not listed do not require paid rest periods).
Maine labor rules at a glance
| Topic | What the US DOL table says for Maine | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.10 | November 5, 2026 |
| Overtime / premium pay | Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 | November 5, 2026 |
| Meal break (adults) | See table below | January 1, 2023 |
| Paid rest break (adults) | Not listed; DOL: states not listed do not require paid rest periods | January 1, 2023 |
| Minors under 16: max hours | 8-40-6 non-school day/week 3-18-6 school day/week | July 15, 2025 |
| Minors 16–17: max hours | If enrolled in school: 10-50-6 non-school day/week 6 (except 8 on last scheduled day of school week)- 24-6 school day/week | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, under 16 | 7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer vacation) to 7 a.m. | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, 16–17 | If enrolled in school: 10:15 p.m. (12 a.m. before non-school day) to 7 a.m. on day the minor’s school is in session, and to 5 a.m. otherwise. | July 15, 2025 |
Minimum wage in Maine
Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.10
Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40
If the highest federal minimum wage is increased in excess of the State minimum wage in effect, then the State minimum wage will increase to the same amount, effective on the same date as the increase in the federal minimum wage.
The minimum wage is adjusted annually based on a set formula.
DOL footnote 1: The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
The DOL notes that some local governments set minimum wages higher than the state rate, and that subminimum or training rates are not shown in its table.
Meal breaks in Maine
| Rule | Prescribed by | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes after 6 consecutive hours, except in cases of emergency. | Statute | Not applicable to places of employment where there are fewer than 3 employees on duty at any one time and the nature of the work allows those employees frequent paid breaks during the workday. Not applicable if collective bargaining or other written employer-employee agreement provides otherwise. |
DOL footnote 3/: Not displayed in table are exemptions for executive, administrative and professional employees, and for outside salespersons.
Rest breaks in Maine
Maine is not listed in the DOL table of paid rest-period requirements (revised January 1, 2023). The DOL table states: "States not listed do not require paid rest periods."
Scheduling minors in Maine
Hours notation is the DOL's: daily-weekly-days per week (for example 8-40-6). Where state law is less restrictive than federal law, federal law applies; where it is more restrictive, state law applies (29 U.S.C. 218(a), as quoted by the DOL).
| Age | Maximum hours | Night work prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 8-40-6 non-school day/week 3-18-6 school day/week | 7 p.m. (9 p.m. during summer vacation) to 7 a.m. |
| 16 and 17 | If enrolled in school: 10-50-6 non-school day/week 6 (except 8 on last scheduled day of school week)- 24-6 school day/week | If enrolled in school: 10:15 p.m. (12 a.m. before non-school day) to 7 a.m. on day the minor’s school is in session, and to 5 a.m. otherwise. |
DOL table footnotes: (a) State hours limitations on a school day and in a school week usually apply only to those enrolled in school. (b) Students of 14 and 15 enrolled in approved Work Experience and Career Exploration programs may work during school hours up to 3 hours on a school day and 23 hours in a school week. (c) Combined hours of work and school.
A blank cell is blank on the DOL table. The federal (FLSA) row of the same DOL table, for minors under 16: 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 in a non-school week, and no work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Tools: overtime calculator · labor cost calculator · all states
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your state labor department for current rules.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in Maine?
The US DOL lists Maine's basic minimum rate as $15.10 per hour (updated November 5, 2026). Some cities and counties set higher local rates.
Does Maine require meal breaks for adults?
Yes, the DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a requirement for Maine; see the table on this page.
Does Maine require paid rest breaks?
No. Maine is not in the DOL paid rest-period table, which states that states not listed do not require paid rest periods.
Sources
- US DOL, Overtime Pay (checked 2026-11-12)
- State Minimum Wage Laws (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector 1 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-farm Employment as of July 15, 2025 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- US DOL, Breaks and Meal Periods (checked 2026-11-12)