Montgomery County, MD Minimum Wage 2026 and 2027
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in Montgomery County, MD is $18.00 per hour for large employers (51 or more employees), in effect since July 1, 2026. It is set by the local ordinance and is $3.00 above the Maryland statewide minimum of $15.00 and $10.75 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Rates and sources checked October 30, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Current rate (October 30, 2026)
$18.00
In effect since July 1, 2026
2027 status: Not announced yet
Not announced yet
Next adjustment date: July 1, 2027
Compared with Maryland
$3.00 higher
Maryland statewide rate $15.00; federal $7.25
Montgomery County, MD minimum wage rates
| Group | Rate on October 30, 2026 | Since | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large employers (51 or more employees) | $18.00 | July 1, 2026 | Not announced |
| Mid-size employers (11 to 50 employees) | $16.50 | July 1, 2026 | Not announced |
| Small employers (10 or fewer employees) | $15.95 | July 1, 2026 | Not announced |
Set by Montgomery County Code Chapter 27, Sections 27-68 and 27-69. Administered by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights.
Montgomery County, MD minimum wage in 2027: Not announced yet
Not announced yet. County Code Section 27-68 requires the new rate to be determined each March 1 from the change in the Washington-area Consumer Price Index, and the county's increase takes effect July 1.
The large employer rate is adjusted each July 1 by the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria CPI-W change, rounded to the nearest five cents; mid-size and small employer rates can rise by an extra amount when the inflation increase is under $0.50 and they have not caught up with the next higher rate.
Tipped workers
Tipped employees (earning more than $30 per month in tips) are guaranteed earnings of at least the county minimum wage. Employers must pay at least $4.00 per hour in cash, and that amount plus tips must equal or exceed the county minimum wage rate for the employer's size. Restaurant employers that use a tip credit must give employees a written or electronic wage statement for each pay period.
Who is covered
The county rate depends on employer size: large (51 or more employees), mid-size (11 to 50 employees, and some employers with 11 or more employees that are 501(c)(3) organizations or Medicaid home health providers) and small (10 or fewer employees).
The Maryland Department of Labor says most employees must receive at least the applicable Montgomery County minimum wage rate for any work done in the county.
Youth exclusion, 2017 text: the county minimum wage does not apply to an employee who is under the age of 19 years and is employed no more than 20 hours per week, according to the County Council materials for Bill 28-17 (which also list employees exempt under State or federal law and those under an opportunity wage). Confirm the current County Code section 27-68 with the Office of Human Rights before relying on it.
Tiers and exceptions
- Employers of tipped employees must file a quarterly wage report with the Office of Human Rights within 30 days after the end of each quarter.
- If the Consumer Price Index increase is less than $0.50 and the mid-sized employer rate does not equal the large employer rate, the county adds one percent of the prior year's rate, up to a combined increase of $0.50. Small employer rates follow the same rule, measured against the rate for other employers.
Montgomery County, MD compared with Maryland and the federal minimum
| Minimum wage | October 30, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County, MD | $18.00 | $18.00 |
| Maryland (statewide) | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Federal | $7.25 | $7.25 |
Employers must pay the highest rate that applies. See the Maryland minimum wage page for the statewide rules.
Montgomery County, MD rate history
| Effective | Large employers (51 or more employees) |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | $18.00 |
| July 1, 2025 | $17.65 |
Mid-size employers (11 to 50 employees)
- July 1, 2026$16.50
- July 1, 2025$16.00
Small employers (10 or fewer employees)
- July 1, 2026$15.95
- July 1, 2025$15.50
Montgomery County, MD minimum wage pay calculator
| Gross pay | Montgomery County, MD ($18.00) | Maryland ($15.00) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly pay | $720.00 | $600.00 | $120.00 |
| Yearly pay | $37,440.00 | $31,200.00 | $6,240.00 |
Gross pay before taxes, paid straight time for every hour entered. The Montgomery County, MD rate is the general rate for the group named above; tipped, youth and other groups follow the rules listed on this page.
What the official sources say
“Tipped employees (earning more than $30 per month in tips) are guaranteed earnings equaling no less than the Montgomery County Minimum Wage Rate per hour. Employers must pay at least $4.00 per hour. This amount plus tips must equal or greater than the Montgomery County Minimum Wage Rate.”
“The County minimum wage does not apply to a worker who is exempt from the State or federal minimum wage, is under the age of 19 years and is employed no more than 20 hours per week, or subject to an "opportunity wage" under the State or federal law.”
“Most employees must receive at least the applicable Montgomery County minimum wage rate for any work done in the county.”
“Sponsored by then-County Council member and current County Executive Marc Elrich and enacted in 2017, Section 27-68 of the County Code requires the new minimum wage rate to be determined each March 1.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Montgomery County, MD in 2026?
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in Montgomery County, MD is $18.00 per hour for large employers (51 or more employees), in effect since July 1, 2026. It is set by Montgomery County Code Chapter 27, Sections 27-68 and 27-69 and administered by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights.
Will the Montgomery County, MD minimum wage go up in 2027?
Not announced yet. County Code Section 27-68 requires the new rate to be determined each March 1 from the change in the Washington-area Consumer Price Index, and the county's increase takes effect July 1.
How does the Montgomery County, MD minimum wage compare with the Maryland and federal minimums?
The Maryland statewide minimum is $15.00, so Montgomery County, MD is $3.00 higher. The federal minimum is $7.25. An employer must pay the highest rate that applies.
Who is covered by the Montgomery County, MD minimum wage?
The county rate depends on employer size: large (51 or more employees), mid-size (11 to 50 employees, and some employers with 11 or more employees that are 501(c)(3) organizations or Medicaid home health providers) and small (10 or fewer employees). The Maryland Department of Labor says most employees must receive at least the applicable Montgomery County minimum wage rate for any work done in the county. Youth exclusion, 2017 text: the county minimum wage does not apply to an employee who is under the age of 19 years and is employed no more than 20 hours per week, according to the County Council materials for Bill 28-17 (which also list employees exempt under State or federal law and those under an opportunity wage). Confirm the current County Code section 27-68 with the Office of Human Rights before relying on it.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Montgomery County, MD?
Tipped employees (earning more than $30 per month in tips) are guaranteed earnings of at least the county minimum wage. Employers must pay at least $4.00 per hour in cash, and that amount plus tips must equal or exceed the county minimum wage rate for the employer's size. Restaurant employers that use a tip credit must give employees a written or electronic wage statement for each pay period.
Are there different rates or exceptions in Montgomery County, MD?
Mid-size employers (11 to 50 employees): $16.50; Small employers (10 or fewer employees): $15.95. Employers of tipped employees must file a quarterly wage report with the Office of Human Rights within 30 days after the end of each quarter.
Sources for Montgomery County, MD
- Montgomery County Office of Human Rights: Minimum Wage Increase
- Maryland Department of Labor: Montgomery County minimum wage poster (revised September 1, 2026)
- Montgomery County Council packet, Bill 28-17 public hearing (September 26, 2017)
- Montgomery County news release, March 1, 2024
Sources checked October 30, 2026.
The March 2024 news release is used only for the sentence on when each rate is determined. The council packet is the 2017 text for Bill 28-17.