Where does Maryland rank when it comes to minimum wage?
As we continue sharing spotlights on data from our 2023 Competitiveness Redbook for Maryland revealing where Maryland ranks compared to other states in key economic indicators, today we’re focusing in on where we rank for minimum wage.
As of March 1, 2023, Maryland had the 11th highest minimum wage rate in the country, with a minimum wage of $13.25 (Economic Policy Institute).
When our state’s minimum wage increases to $15 on January 1, 2024 as a result of the Governor and General Assembly’s minimum wage bill, SB555, the state will have one of the highest minimum wage rates in the country.
While a number of other states are also preparing for minimum wage increases over the next several years, based on data from Economic Policy Institute, Maryland will remain among the states with the highest minimum wage rates through 2025. This will have significant implications for workers, businesses and the state’s economic competitiveness.
Explore Maryland’s Minimum Wage Data
Economic Indicator Spotlight: Maryland’s Minimum Wage
Here’s what the data indicates:
When compared to neighboring states, Maryland’s minimum wage is higher than Pennsylvania’s ($7.25) and West Virginia’s ($8.75). Maryland’s minimum wage is also higher than Delaware and Virginia’s minimum wages of $11.75 and $12.00, respectively, while New Jersey and New York have slightly higher minimum wages than Maryland, with wages of $14.13 and $14.20, respectively.
The states with the highest minimum wage rates in the country are Washington state ($15.74), California ($15.50) and Massachusetts ($15).
Maryland’s 2024 minimum wage increase will place the state in the top tier for highest minimum wage rates paid in the country.
Why it matters:
Where Maryland stands on minimum wage – and where the state ranks competitively with neighboring states in particular – is an important issue to monitor. Minimum wage policies can significantly impact businesses and their decisions to operate or invest in Maryland. It’s important to note that businesses may also respond to minimum wage increases in other ways, such as driving them to increase prices or reduce employee hours or benefits.
While businesses value investing in human resources and ensuring that employees receive fair and livable wages, the impacts of higher wages can lead to increased costs and potential job losses. As we move forward, we urge policymakers to keep these potential impacts in mind, working to create and implement policies in a way that supports workers without harming businesses or the economy.
Data Sources:
Additional Reading:
- Minimum Wage Tracker, The Economic Policy Institute
- Topics: Employment Law, Minimum Wage, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- What Are the Pros and Cons of Raising the Minimum Wage, 2022, Investopedia
- NFIB Warns Maryland Legislators Against Accelerated Minimum Wage Hike, 2023, The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
- State Minimum Wage Rate for Maryland: 1968 – 2023, St. Louis Fed Economic Data Series
- Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers, 2021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- How raising minimum wage to $15 per hour could affect workers and small businesses, CNBC, 2021
Explore Maryland’s Minimum Wage Data
Building a prosperous, competitive economy takes understanding of where we stand today.
Explore the 2023 Maryland Competitiveness Redbook and our economic indicator spotlights for more information on where Maryland stands – and what it means for our economy, for our state and for business.
We encourage you to use this data to understand the realities facing Maryland’s economy and business community. By working collaboratively to remove obstacles, update polices, and create a pro-business atmosphere where both businesses and communities thrive, we can make Maryland a top competitor for business with an economy that leaves no one behind.
