Maryland Overtime Calculator 2026 (40/48/60 Hr Rules)

2026 County Minimum Wage Surges

Maryland passed legislation accelerating its minimum wage to $15.00 per hour statewide in 2024. However, if you work in one of Maryland's more affluent counties, the local laws override the state baseline and grant you a significantly higher wage floor in 2026.

Montgomery County: Large employers (51+ employees) must pay approximately $17.15/hr (indexed to inflation).
Howard County: Employers must pay approximately $16.00/hr.

Your 1.5x overtime rate is directly tied to these local wages. If you work in Montgomery County, your overtime rate cannot legally be less than $25.72/hr. Use our standard overtime calculator if you move across county lines frequently.

DMV Commuter Alert: Do you live in Maryland but commute to work in the District? Your paycheck is governed by D.C. laws, not Maryland's. Use our dedicated Washington D.C. Overtime Calculator to check your $17.50+ minimum wage and Initiative 82 tipped status.

Maryland's 60-Hour & 48-Hour Overtime Loopholes

While standard workers get overtime after 40 hours, Maryland has carved out some of the most aggressive industry exemptions in the entire country. If you work in these specific fields, your boss can legally withhold your 1.5x premium pay for a much longer time.

"If you work in a bowling establishment or an institution that provides on-premises residential care (excluding hospitals), Maryland law legally allows your employer to delay overtime pay until you cross 48 hours."

Even more drastic is the agricultural exemption. Agricultural workers in Maryland are only eligible for overtime after 60 hours of work per week. This means a farm worker clocking 55 hours in July receives zero overtime pay.

Flowchart showing the three tiers of Maryland overtime. Standard is 40 hours. Bowling and Care Facilities are 48 hours. Agriculture is 60 hours. — Always check your specific industry designation. Your legal overtime threshold in MD could be 40, 48, or even 60 hours.

The $3.63 Tipped Wage Minimum

For restaurant and hospitality workers, Maryland enforces a strict minimum cash wage of $3.63 per hour. Your employer takes a "tip credit" for the remainder to reach the $15.00+ minimum wage. If your tips are slow and you average less than the county minimum wage, your employer must legally make up the difference out of their own pocket.

Warning for Montgomery County: MoCo has passed local laws to gradually phase out the tip credit entirely. If you work in Montgomery County, verify your local base rate, as it may be significantly higher than the state's $3.63 floor.

**MD Overtime Pay Comparison: 50 Hours Worked**
Industry Type	Hours at 1.0x Rate	Hours at 1.5x OT Rate
Standard Office/Retail	40 Hours	10 Hours
Bowling Alley / Care	48 Hours	2 Hours
Agricultural Worker	50 Hours	0 Hours

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Maryland minimum wage for 2026?

The statewide Maryland minimum wage is $15.00 per hour. However, certain counties have higher local minimum wages. For example, large employers in Montgomery County must pay approximately $17.15/hr, and Howard County requires $16.00/hr.

2. When do agricultural workers get overtime in Maryland?

Under Maryland law, agricultural workers are subject to a massive overtime exemption. They are only legally entitled to 1.5x overtime pay after working 60 hours in a single workweek, not 40.

3. What is the tipped minimum wage in Maryland?

The state minimum cash wage for tipped employees (like servers and bartenders) is locked at $3.63 per hour. Your employer must ensure that your $3.63 base plus tips equals at least the full minimum wage for your county.

4. Does Maryland have daily overtime?

No. Maryland follows the federal FLSA weekly standard. Unless you are in an exempt industry, you must be paid 1.5 times your regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a single 7-day workweek, regardless of daily hours.

Maryland Overtime Calculator