Employer guide · Reviewed October 2026

Maryland HR laws for employers (2026)

The Maryland rules employers ask about most: minimum wage, overtime, final pay, unused vacation, paid sick leave and breaks.

$15.00minimum wage per hour

Yesstatewide paid sick leave

Usually requiredunused vacation payout at separation

Maryland employment law at a glance

Minimum wage	$15.00 per hour Verify
Tipped cash wage	$3.63 per hour
Overtime	No daily overtime; 1.5x after 40 hours per week (some industries, such as bowling alleys and certain residential care institutions, after 48; agricultural workers after 60).
Final pay when fired	By the next regular payday (the date wages would have been paid had employment continued).
Final pay when an employee quits	By the next regular payday, same as termination.
Unused vacation / PTO at separation	Required unless the employer has a written policy limiting payout, notified the employee of it at hiring, and the policy does not entitle payout at termination.
Paid sick leave	Yes (Healthy Working Families Act): 1 hour per 30 hours worked; employers with 15+ employees must provide paid leave, smaller employers unpaid. Employers may cap accrual at 40 hours/year, use at 64 hours/year, and balance at 64 hours.
Meal breaks	No general state requirement for adult employees; the Healthy Retail Employee Act requires shift breaks only for certain large retail employers. Verify
Rest breaks	No state requirement for adult employees.

Minimum wage note: $15.00/hour statewide (in effect since Jan 1, 2024); no scheduled 2027 state increase announced. Employees under 18 may be paid 85% of the state rate. Montgomery County ($15.95-$18.00 by employer size), Howard County ($16.00) and Prince George's County ($15.30) have higher local rates as of July 1, 2026.

Verify means we could not confirm that item from an official Maryland or US Department of Labor source, so check it with the state before relying on it.

Other Maryland rules to know

Pay transparency: job postings must include the pay range, a general description of benefits and other compensation (since Oct 1, 2024).
FAMLI paid family and medical leave program: payroll contributions begin Jan 1, 2027; benefits begin Jan 1, 2028.

Free Maryland HR forms

Offer LetterMaryland rules and checklist Onboarding ChecklistMaryland rules and checklist PTO Request FormMaryland rules and checklist Final Pay ChecklistMaryland rules and checklist Employee Exit ChecklistMaryland rules and checklist Resignation AcknowledgmentMaryland rules and checklist

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Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in Maryland in 2026?

$15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2024. $15.00/hour statewide (in effect since Jan 1, 2024); no scheduled 2027 state increase announced. Employees under 18 may be paid 85% of the state rate. Montgomery County ($15.95-$18.00 by employer size), Howard County ($16.00) and Prince George's County ($15.30) have higher local rates as of July 1, 2026.

When is a final paycheck due in Maryland?

If the employer ends employment: By the next regular payday (the date wages would have been paid had employment continued). If the employee quits: By the next regular payday, same as termination.

Does Maryland require paying out unused vacation?

Required unless the employer has a written policy limiting payout, notified the employee of it at hiring, and the policy does not entitle payout at termination.

Is paid sick leave required in Maryland?

Yes (Healthy Working Families Act): 1 hour per 30 hours worked; employers with 15+ employees must provide paid leave, smaller employers unpaid. Employers may cap accrual at 40 hours/year, use at 64 hours/year, and balance at 64 hours.

Sources

This page is general information for employers, not legal advice. Employment laws change and can vary by city and county. Confirm details with the state labor department or an employment attorney. Read our disclaimer.