Maryland labor laws for hourly staff: minimum wage, breaks and minors
Maryland's basic minimum wage is $15.00 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 Maryland, 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).
Maryland labor rules at a glance
| Topic | What the US DOL table says for Maryland | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.00 | 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 non-school day/week 4-23 school day/week | July 15, 2025 |
| Minors 16–17: max hours | 12 c | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, under 16 | 8 p.m. (9 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, 16–17 | 8 consecutive hours of non-work, non-school day time required in each 24-hour day. | July 15, 2025 |
Minimum wage in Maryland
Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.00
Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40
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 Maryland
| Rule | Prescribed by | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 15 minute break for 4-6 consecutive hours or a 30 minute break for more than 6 consecutive hours. If an employee works 8 or more consecutive hours, the employer must provide a 30-minute break and an additional 15 minute break for every additional 4 consecutive hours worked. | Statute | Applies to retail establishments. To clarify, a retail establishment is an employer whose primary purpose is to sell goods to a consumer with the consumer present in the retail establishment at the time of sale, and does not include restaurant or wholesalers. This law applies only to employers who are engaged in a retail business (or who own retail establishment franchises with the same trade name) with 50 or more retail employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. Employees who work in certain retail establishments are entitled to a non-working shift break depending upon the number of hours worked. |
The DOL lists Maryland among the jurisdictions with separate meal-period provisions for minors.
DOL footnote 3/: Not displayed in table are exemptions for executive, administrative and professional employees, and for outside salespersons.
Rest breaks in Maryland
Maryland 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 Maryland
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 non-school day/week 4-23 school day/week | 8 p.m. (9 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. |
| 16 and 17 | 12 c | 8 consecutive hours of non-work, non-school day time required in each 24-hour day. |
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 Maryland?
The US DOL lists Maryland's basic minimum rate as $15.00 per hour (updated November 5, 2026). Some cities and counties set higher local rates.
Does Maryland require meal breaks for adults?
Yes, the DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a requirement for Maryland; see the table on this page.
Does Maryland require paid rest breaks?
No. Maryland 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)