Current minimum wage in Maine
Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 an hour in 2026 and is adjusted each January using regional inflation. It rises to $15.70 on January 1, 2027, and Portland and Rockland have their own local minimum wage ordinances.
The rate rose from $14.65 (effective January 1, 2025) to $15.10 on January 1, 2026, an increase of $0.45 an hour or $936 a year for a full-time worker.
Next scheduled change
Rises to $15.70 on January 1, 2027, with the tipped cash wage moving to $7.85.
Tipped minimum wage
Employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $7.55 an hour and count tips toward the rest, as long as total pay reaches $15.10 an hour. The federal tipped cash wage is $2.13. Service employees who receive more than $191 a month in tips can be paid half the minimum wage, $7.55 an hour, if tips bring pay to at least $15.10.
What minimum wage pays in Maine
| Hours per week | Weekly pay | Yearly pay |
|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | $302.00 | $15,704 |
| 25 hours | $377.50 | $19,630 |
| 30 hours | $453.00 | $23,556 |
| 35 hours | $528.50 | $27,482 |
| 40 hours | $604.00 | $31,408 |
After federal and Maine taxes, a full-time minimum wage worker who files single keeps about $26,656 a year, or $1,025 per biweekly check. Run your own numbers with the Maine paycheck calculator or see the full breakdown for $15 an hour.
Overtime rules
Follows the federal 40-hour weekly overtime rule.
City and county minimum wages
Portland and Rockland set their own local minimum wages.
How Maine compares
Maine ranks #12 of 51 for its minimum wage. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Maine in 2026?
The Maine minimum wage is $15.10 an hour as of January 1, 2026.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Maine?
Employers in Maine may pay tipped workers a cash wage of $7.55 an hour, as long as tips bring total pay to at least $15.10. Service employees who receive more than $191 a month in tips can be paid half the minimum wage, $7.55 an hour, if tips bring pay to at least $15.10.
When does the Maine minimum wage go up next?
Rises to $15.70 on January 1, 2027, with the tipped cash wage moving to $7.85.
How much is minimum wage in Maine per year?
At $15.10 an hour, a 40-hour week pays $604 and a full year pays $31,408 before taxes. A single filer keeps about $26,656 after federal and Maine taxes.
How does overtime work in Maine?
Follows the federal 40-hour weekly overtime rule.
Sources
- Maine Department of Labor: Maine's minimum wage to increase to $15.70 per hour in 2027
- Maine Department of Labor: Minimum Wage FAQ
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (updated July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wage