The Maine Department of Labor announced last week that, effective January 1, 2027, the state minimum wage will increase from $15.10 to $15.70 per hour, based on data recently made available by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. MDOL is required under Maine law (Maine statute Title 26, chapter 7, section 664) to make annual adjustments to the minimum wage based on the cost-of-living index (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region, after Maine voters amended the law by referendum in 2016. Between August 2025 and August 2026, there was a 4.1% increase in the CPI-W.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Maine’s tip wage will increase from $7.55 to $7.85 per hour. Employers must ensure that tipped employees receive at least the state minimum wage of $15.70 per hour when wages and tips are combined. The monthly tip requirement for service employees will also increase from $191 to $199.
The minimum salary threshold for workers exempt from overtime will increase to $905.79 per week, or $47,101.08 annually. Meeting the salary threshold alone does not determine overtime eligibility; the employee’s job duties must also meet federal and state requirements.
More information about minimum wage and other labor standards is available on the Department’s website at www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws.
