Maryland Overtime Laws: Threshold, Rate and Exemptions — Best Proven Guide (2026)

Under Maryland overtime laws you earn after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, and no daily overtime in Maryland — only the weekly total counts. The minimum wage is $15.00. This guide gives the exact maryland overtime laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next.

Rules verified against Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service or an attorney before you rely on it.

Maryland Overtime Laws: The Rules

After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Maryland — only the weekly total counts. The overtime rate is one and a half times your regular rate of pay — the regular rate includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift differentials, not just the base wage.

How to Calculate Overtime Under Maryland Overtime Laws

Take your total pay for the week, divide by the hours you worked to get the regular rate, and multiply the overtime hours by 1.5 times that rate. A worker paid $15.00 an hour who works 48 hours in a 40-hour state is owed 8 hours at time and a half.

Salary does not mean exempt: a salaried worker below the exemption tests still gets overtime on the hours over the threshold.

Maryland Overtime Laws at a Glance

Rules verified against Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.

Who Is Exempt From Maryland Overtime Laws

Maryland generally follows the federal “white-collar” exemptions. They cover salaried executives, administrative staff, learned or creative professionals and outside salespeople whose main job is making sales away from the employer’s place of business. These workers are usually exempt only if they pass both the federal duties test and the federal salary-level test, so a job title alone does not make someone exempt.

Daily Overtime and Maryland Overtime Laws

Maryland has no daily overtime rule: a 12-hour day in a 36-hour week earns no premium, because only the weekly total counts. Under federal law, private employers generally may not give comp time instead of overtime pay, and Maryland law has no exception that allows it. Paid time off in the same workweek is different from comp time, so confirm your situation with the agency.

Is Overtime Taxed Differently Under Maryland Overtime Laws?

No — overtime is ordinary wages and is taxed at the same income-tax rates as the rest of your pay; it can push more of your pay into a higher withholding bracket on one check, but the annual tax rate does not change. Maryland lets employers pay tipped workers a lower cash wage as long as wages plus tips reach the state minimum wage.

Overtime is generally figured on the full minimum wage, not the lower cash wage. The tip credit cannot be made larger during overtime hours, and tips you receive cannot be counted toward the overtime premium.

How to Claim Unpaid Overtime Under Maryland Overtime Laws

You should first ask your employer in writing for the unpaid overtime. If they refuse, you can file a Wage Claim Form with the Employment Standards Service at the Maryland Department of Labor, or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

The agency’s filing deadline is shorter than the deadline for going to court, so file as soon as you can and confirm the current window with the agency.

Other Maryland Overtime Laws Rules to Know

Maryland sets a higher weekly-hours threshold before overtime starts for some workers, including employees of bowling establishments, certain residential care facilities and some farmworkers. Some seasonal amusement or recreational businesses are exempt from Maryland overtime entirely. Wages withheld without a genuine dispute may also lead to extra damages under the Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Law, so confirm with the state agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I get overtime under Maryland overtime laws?

After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Maryland — only the weekly total counts.

What is the overtime rate in Maryland?

One and a half times your regular rate of pay, which includes non-discretionary bonuses and shift pay.

Does Maryland have daily overtime?

No daily overtime in maryland — only the weekly total counts.

Can my employer give comp time instead of overtime pay in Maryland?

Under federal law, private employers generally may not give comp time instead of overtime pay, and Maryland law has no exception that allows it.

How do I claim unpaid overtime in Maryland?

You should first ask your employer in writing for the unpaid overtime. If they refuse, you can file a Wage Claim Form with the Employment Standards Service at the Maryland Department of Labor, or file a complaint with the U.S.

Official Maryland Sources & Resources

• Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wagepay/
• Maryland statute: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gle&section=3-415
• Verified source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state
• U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov

This maryland overtime laws guide was last verified against official Maryland sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.

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• Maryland Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
• Maryland Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
• Maryland Labor Laws: Every Rule in One Place
• Maryland Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
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Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.