Maryland Employment Law: Wages, Final Pay, Breaks and Your Rights at Work
Maryland employment law: minimum wage, overtime, breaks, final paycheck deadlines, PTO payout, sick leave, at-will exceptions and where to file a wage claim.
Quick answers for Maryland
- Minimum wage
- $15.00 per hour for most employees (since January 1, 2024). Employees under 18 may be paid 85% of the state rate. Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties have their own minimum wage laws. Md. Code, Labor & Employment §3-413
- Final paycheck if fired or laid off
- All wages due must be paid on or before the day the employee would have been paid if the job had not ended (the next regular payday). Md. Code, Labor & Employment §3-505(a)
- Meal and rest breaks
- No general break requirement for adults. Retail employers with 50 or more retail employees in Maryland must give a 15-minute break for shifts of 4 to 6 consecutive hours, a 30-minute break for shifts over 6 hours, and an extra 15 minutes for every additional 4 hours after 8 hours. Md. Code, Labor & Employment §3-710 (Healthy Retail Employee Act)
- Unused vacation / PTO payout
- Accrued leave must be paid at separation unless the employer has a written policy limiting payout, told the employee about its leave benefits at hire, and the policy does not entitle the employee to payout. Md. Code, Labor & Employment §3-505(b)
Last verified: 2026-10-26
Pay
| Minimum wage | $15.00 per hour for most employees (since January 1, 2024). Employees under 18 may be paid 85% of the state rate. Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties have their own minimum wage laws. No further statewide increase is set in state law. County rates: https://labor.maryland.gov/labor/wages/wagehrfacts.shtml |
|---|---|
| Tipped minimum wage | Employers must pay tipped employees (more than $30 a month in tips) at least $3.63 per hour in cash wages; wages plus tips must reach the full minimum wage, and the employer must make up any shortfall. Employees must be told about the tip credit and keep all their tips, though tip pooling is allowed. Restaurants using the tip credit must give a wage statement each pay period showing the employee's effective hourly rate. Agency summary: https://labor.maryland.gov/labor/wages/wagehrfacts.shtml |
| Overtime | 1.5 times the usual hourly rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Bowling alley employees and workers at certain non-hospital residential care institutions get overtime after 48 hours. |
| How often you must be paid | At least once every 2 weeks or twice a month on regular paydays. Administrative, executive and professional employees may be paid less often. If payday falls on a non-workday, pay is due the workday before. |
| Pay stubs | Each pay period, a paper or online pay statement showing the employer's name, address and phone; pay date and pay period; hours worked (for non-exempt employees); rates of pay; gross and net pay; each deduction; and any bonuses, commissions or piece rates. At hire, employers must give written notice of pay rate, paydays and leave benefits. |
Breaks and leave
| Meal and rest breaks | No general break requirement for adults. Retail employers with 50 or more retail employees in Maryland must give a 15-minute break for shifts of 4 to 6 consecutive hours, a 30-minute break for shifts over 6 hours, and an extra 15 minutes for every additional 4 hours after 8 hours. |
|---|---|
| Paid sick leave | Employers with 15 or more employees must provide paid sick and safe leave; smaller employers must provide it unpaid. Employees earn at least 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year, and may use up to 64 hours a year. Employers may bar use during the first 106 calendar days. Up to 40 unused hours carry over. |
Leaving a job
| Final paycheck if fired or laid off | All wages due must be paid on or before the day the employee would have been paid if the job had not ended (the next regular payday). |
|---|---|
| Final paycheck if you quit | Same rule as a firing: by the next regular payday. |
| Unused vacation / PTO payout | Accrued leave must be paid at separation unless the employer has a written policy limiting payout, told the employee about its leave benefits at hire, and the policy does not entitle the employee to payout. Unused sick and safe leave does not have to be paid out (§3-1304(j)). |
| Unemployment benefits | Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance. File a claim online in the BEACON portal or by phone. |
Firing, retaliation and discrimination
| Job discrimination complaints | Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. Covers employers with 15 or more employees; harassment claims cover employers with 1 or more employees. Employment complaints must be filed within 300 days; harassment complaints within 2 years. Employer definition: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gsg§ion=20-601&enactments=false |
|---|---|
| Non-compete agreements | Non-competes are void for employees earning 150% of the state minimum wage or less, for licensed health care workers giving direct patient care who earn $350,000 a year or less, and for licensed veterinary practitioners and technicians. For direct-care health workers earning more than $350,000, a non-compete may last no more than 1 year and cover no more than 10 miles. |
Where to get help in Maryland
Employment Law FAQ
What is the minimum wage in Maryland?
$15.00 per hour for most employees (since January 1, 2024). Employees under 18 may be paid 85% of the state rate. Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties have their own minimum wage laws.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Maryland?
Employers must pay tipped employees (more than $30 a month in tips) at least $3.63 per hour in cash wages; wages plus tips must reach the full minimum wage, and the employer must make up any shortfall. Employees must be told about the tip credit and keep all their tips, though tip pooling is allowed. Restaurants using the tip credit must give a wage statement each pay period showing the employee's effective hourly rate.
What are the overtime rules in Maryland?
1.5 times the usual hourly rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Bowling alley employees and workers at certain non-hospital residential care institutions get overtime after 48 hours.
Are breaks required by law in Maryland?
No general break requirement for adults. Retail employers with 50 or more retail employees in Maryland must give a 15-minute break for shifts of 4 to 6 consecutive hours, a 30-minute break for shifts over 6 hours, and an extra 15 minutes for every additional 4 hours after 8 hours.
When do I get my final paycheck if I'm fired in Maryland?
All wages due must be paid on or before the day the employee would have been paid if the job had not ended (the next regular payday).
When do I get my final paycheck if I quit in Maryland?
Same rule as a firing: by the next regular payday.
Does an employer have to pay out unused PTO in Maryland?
Accrued leave must be paid at separation unless the employer has a written policy limiting payout, told the employee about its leave benefits at hire, and the policy does not entitle the employee to payout.
How often must employees be paid in Maryland?
At least once every 2 weeks or twice a month on regular paydays. Administrative, executive and professional employees may be paid less often. If payday falls on a non-workday, pay is due the workday before.
Do employers have to give pay stubs in Maryland?
Each pay period, a paper or online pay statement showing the employer's name, address and phone; pay date and pay period; hours worked (for non-exempt employees); rates of pay; gross and net pay; each deduction; and any bonuses, commissions or piece rates. At hire, employers must give written notice of pay rate, paydays and leave benefits.
Is paid sick leave required in Maryland?
Employers with 15 or more employees must provide paid sick and safe leave; smaller employers must provide it unpaid. Employees earn at least 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year, and may use up to 64 hours a year. Employers may bar use during the first 106 calendar days. Up to 40 unused hours carry over.
Where do I file a job discrimination complaint in Maryland?
Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. Covers employers with 15 or more employees; harassment claims cover employers with 1 or more employees. Employment complaints must be filed within 300 days; harassment complaints within 2 years.
Are non-compete agreements enforceable in Maryland?
Non-competes are void for employees earning 150% of the state minimum wage or less, for licensed health care workers giving direct patient care who earn $350,000 a year or less, and for licensed veterinary practitioners and technicians. For direct-care health workers earning more than $350,000, a non-compete may last no more than 1 year and cover no more than 10 miles.
How do I apply for unemployment in Maryland?
Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance. File a claim online in the BEACON portal or by phone.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.