Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 an hour through December 31, 2026. On January 1, 2027 it rises to $15.70 an hour, a 60-cent increase announced by the Maine Department of Labor on September 18, 2026. The tipped direct wage rises from $7.55 to $7.85, and the overtime salary threshold rises to $905.79 a week.
Current as of October 2026.
Maine Minimum Wage at a Glance
Now through December 31, 2026: $15.10 an hour.
Starting January 1, 2027: $15.70 an hour.
Tipped direct cash wage: $7.55 now, $7.85 in 2027. Combined wages and tips must still reach the full minimum wage.
Overtime exemption salary threshold: $871.16 a week ($45,300.32 a year) now, $905.79 a week ($47,101.08 a year) in 2027.
Tip threshold for service employee status: $191 a month now, $199 a month in 2027.
How the 2027 Increase Was Set
Maine law requires the minimum wage to adjust every January based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region. Voters added this automatic adjustment in 2016. The Department of Labor announced the new rate on September 18, 2026. The 60-cent increase is about 4.0% over the current $15.10, in line with the 4.1% rise in the Northeast CPI-W from August 2025 to August 2026.
The Department of Labor estimates about 28,000 hourly workers in Maine were paid less than $15.00 an hour, roughly 8% of hourly workers. Those are the positions most affected when the new rate takes effect.
Tipped Workers
Maine's tip credit is capped at 50% of the minimum wage. The direct cash wage an employer must pay a tipped service employee is $7.55 an hour now and $7.85 an hour from January 1, 2027. If wages plus tips do not reach the full minimum wage in a pay period, the employer must make up the difference.
Local Minimum Wages
Some Maine cities set a minimum wage above the state rate. Portland's rate is $16.75 an hour in 2026, with the city's ordinance scheduling $17.75 in 2027 and $19.00 in 2028. Rockland's rate is $16.00 an hour for employers with 26 or more employees. Employers in these cities should confirm the current local rate with the city before setting wages, because local rates can change on a different schedule than the state's.
Overtime Exemption Salary Threshold
A salaried employee can be exempt from overtime only if they meet both a salary test and a duties test. The salary threshold is $871.16 a week ($45,300.32 a year) in 2026 and rises to $905.79 a week ($47,101.08 a year) on January 1, 2027. Salaried employees paid below the new threshold must be converted to hourly with overtime, or given a raise, by that date. Meeting the salary level alone does not make someone exempt; the duties must qualify as well.
Agricultural Workers
Agricultural workers became covered by the state minimum wage in 2026. Agricultural employers remain exempt from state overtime rules.
Sub-Minimum Wage Exceptions
Narrow exceptions exist for student workers and for certain workers under 20 under federal law. They are limited, and most Maine employers will not be able to use them.
Maine Minimum Wage History
2021: $12.15. 2022: $12.75. 2023: $13.80. 2024: $14.15. 2025: $14.65. 2026: $15.10. 2027: $15.70.
What Employers Should Do Before January 1
Update payroll to the $15.70 rate effective with the first pay period that includes January 1, 2027. Raise the tipped direct wage to $7.85. Audit salaried employees against the $905.79 weekly threshold. Replace the labor law posters. Check that posted pay ranges still match actual pay: since July 29, 2026, Maine employers with 10 or more employees must include the anticipated pay range in job advertisements, and ranges that start below the new minimum will need to change.
Also consider the market. Minimum wage is a floor, not a competitive offer. Applicants compare postings, and a wage just above the minimum draws a thin pool in most of the state, especially in Greater Portland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Maine in 2026?
$15.10 an hour, effective January 1, 2026. It was $14.65 in 2025.
What will Maine's minimum wage be in 2027?
$15.70 an hour, effective January 1, 2027, according to the Maine Department of Labor's September 18, 2026 announcement.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Maine?
The direct cash wage for tipped service employees is $7.55 an hour in 2026 and $7.85 an hour in 2027. Wages plus tips must reach the full minimum wage.
What is the minimum wage in Portland, Maine?
$16.75 an hour in 2026. The city ordinance schedules $17.75 for 2027 and $19.00 for 2028.
How is Maine's minimum wage adjusted each year?
Annually, based on the Northeast Region CPI-W, under state law as amended by voters in 2016.
What is the salary threshold for overtime exemption in Maine?
$871.16 a week in 2026 and $905.79 a week from January 1, 2027. Employees must also meet the duties test.
Does Maine's minimum wage apply to farmworkers?
Yes, since 2026. Agricultural employers remain exempt from state overtime rules.
Source: Maine Department of Labor, "Maine's Minimum Wage to Increase to $15.70 Per Hour in 2027," September 18, 2026. This page summarizes publicly available information for general purposes and is not legal advice.
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