With high schoolers scrambling for summer employment, we are constantly asked about minimum wage and sub-minimum wages applicable to minors. Below is a quick tutorial.  

Maryland

Minimum Wage for Employers with 15 or more employees

• January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022: $12.50/hour 
• January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023: $13.25/hour 
• January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024: $14.00/hour 
• Beginning January 1, 2025: $15.00/hour 

 Minimum Wage for Small employers (14 or fewer employees)

• January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022: $12.20/hour 
• January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023: $12.80/hour 
• January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024: $13.40/hour 
• January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025: $14.00/hour 
• January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026: $14.60/hour 
• Beginning July 1, 2026: $15.00/hour

Employees under 18

Employers can pay employees who are under 18 years old a minimum wage of 85% of the current state minimum wage.

District of Columbia

Minimum Wage

D.C.’s minimum wage is $15.20 per hour. 

Employees under 18

Individuals under the age of 18 years old may be paid the minimum wage established by the United States Government (currently $7.25 per hour according to the Fair Labor Standards Act).

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Virginia

 Minimum Wage

• January 2022: $11
• January 2023: $12
• January 2025: $13.50 *(not guaranteed)
• January 2026: $15
• January 2027: $15+

‍* These changes will only go into effect if the law is “reenacted by a regular or special session of the General Assembly prior to July 1, 2024.” 

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Employees Under 18

Virginia’s "Youth Minimum Wage Program" allows workers under the age of 20 to be paid a special minimum wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment with any employer. After the first 90 days have passed (or when the employee turns 20, whichever comes first) the employee must be given a raise to the full minimum wage in effect at the time.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the exceptions. This information does not cover tipped employees, workers of certain summer camps, seasonal amusement parks, drive in theatres, etc. For questions about wages, contact Laura Rubenstein at LRubenstein@RKWlawgroup.com.

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