As summer approaches, take note of patchwork of county minimum wage laws
The start of summer is typically marked by a wave of temporary hirings of students and other new employees, with many summer jobs paying those workers the minimum wage. While a series of increases across recent years have brought the Maryland state minimum wage to $15 per hour, employers in two of Maryland’s most heavily populated counties should be aware of local ordinances that require higher hourly wages.
Howard County
Effective January 1, 2025, the Howard County minimum wage increased to $16 per hour. That general minimum wage rate is subject to an exception for “small employers,” which are subject to the statewide $15 minimum wage rate. The “small employer” exception in the Howard County Code applies to:
· Employers with fewer than 15 employees, as defined in the state minimum wage statute;