Maryland Local Minimum Wage Increases on July 1, 2026
On July 1, 2026, the following local minimum wages will increase.
Howard County
The minimum wage in Howard County will increase to $16 per hour for employers with 14 or fewer employees as well as certain charitable organizations, home health service providers, and food service facilities, bringing them in line with larger employers that are already subject to this rate. The minimum base wage for tipped employees remains at $3.63 per hour.
More information can be found here.
Montgomery County
The hourly minimum wage in Montgomery County will increase as follows:
Employers with 1–10 employees: $15.95
Employers with 11–50 employees: $16.50
Employers with 51 or more employees: $18
Employers with 11 or more employees and the employer is tax-exempt under 501(c)(3): $16.50
Employers with 11 or more employees, and the employer provides home health services or home- or community-based services (as defined by federal law) and receives at least 75% of gross revenues through Medicaid: $16.50
The minimum base wage for tipped employees remains $4 per hour. Montgomery County announced these rates on February 27, 2026. More information can be found here.