Maryland Law Protects All Workers: Know Your Rights on the Job - Division of Labor and Industry
All workers in Maryland have rights. You are entitled to exercise your rights free of threats or retaliation.
Pay
Minimum Wage
In Maryland, all workers must receive at least $15 per hour. Montgomery, Howard, and Prince George’s counties have higher minimum wage rates.
Tipped Employees: Employers must pay tipped employees at least $3.63 per hour ($4.00 in Montgomery County). Combined with tips, employees must make at least the Maryland minimum wage rate (or the county’s minimum wage rate, if higher).
Restaurant employers who use a tip credit to meet their minimum wage obligations must give employees a Tip Credit Wage Statement that provides basic information about the calculation.
Some groups of employees are exempt from minimum wage requirements, overtime requirements, or both.
Overtime
Most employees must receive 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for all work over 40 hours per week.
Agricultural workers must receive 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for all work over 60 hours per week.
Employees Who Work on State Public Works/Service Contracts
Information About Your Pay
At the time of hire, employers are required to give written notice of rates of pay, paydays, and leave benefits. Each payday, employers must provide employees with a statement containing information about their hours, rates, and pay.
Leave
Most employees are entitled to accrue and use leave to take care of themselves or a family member.
More information on sick/safe leave (Maryland Healthy Working Families Act)
Maryland law may entitle you to other types of leave, including parental, adoption, and deployment leave.
More information on other leave laws
Worker Classification (1099 vs. W-2)
Employers sometimes pay workers off the books or misclassify them as independent contractors. These workers do not have access to employee protections such as unemployment insurance coverage, Workers’ Compensation coverage, minimum wage, overtime, and other benefits.
More information on worker classification
Joint Enforcement Task Force on Workplace Fraud
Workplace Safety & Health
Maryland law entitles workers to a safe and healthy workplace.
Maryland Occupational Safety and Health main page
Workers’ rights: safety & health
Youth Worker Protections
Maryland provides special protections for youth workers, including requiring a work permit, limiting the hours youth may work, and limiting the types of work they may perform.
More information on employment of minors
Minors: apply for a Work Permit
More information on minimum wage, overtime, and exemptions
Other Rights and Benefits
Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination Protections
Unions and Collective Action in the Workplace: Your Rights
Maryland Unemployment Benefits
Workers' Compensation
This page summarizes key workers' rights and benefits that may be available to you. This is not a complete or comprehensive list.
To learn more about your rights, visit the Division of Labor and Industry home page and view our offices. If you have questions, please contact us.
Contact Us
Phone: (410) 767-2992
Email: [email protected]
10946 Golden West Drive, Suite 160
Hunt Valley, MD 21031