Minimum wage in ZIP code 21723
$16.00 per hour1
per hourZIP 21723 lies in Howard County, MD. General rate set by Howard County since January 1, 2025.
No scheduled increase on record.
2 rates in force
Rates by worker type, industry and employer size
The highest rate that fits the job applies.
| Applies to | Rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|
1–14 employeesSourceJuly 1, 2026 | | $16.00 per hour |
Verified September 26, 2026 | $16.00July 1, 2026 | July 1, 2026 |
15+ employeesSourceJanuary 1, 2025 | $16.00 per hour |
Verified September 26, 2026 | $16.00January 1, 2025 | January 1, 2025 |
3 jurisdictions · Census 2020
Every jurisdiction over ZIP 21723
Employers pay the highest minimum that covers the work address. Bars show the share of the ZIP's land inside each.
| Jurisdiction | Share of land | General rate |
|---|---|---|
| Howard County AppliesCounty or region | 100% | $16.00 |
| MarylandState floor | 100% | $15.00 |
| United StatesFederal floor | 100% | $7.25 |
10 rules · September 27, 2026
Labor law basics in Howard County, MD
What the law adds on top of the hourly rate. Follow the citation for exceptions.
Overtime
Most employees must be paid 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for all hours over 40 a week; the state threshold is 48 hours for bowling alleys and non-hospital residential care institutions and 60 hours for non-exempt agricultural workers. (non-exempt employees)
Source
Most employees must be paid 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for all hours worked over 40 per week. Under Maryland law, employees of bowling alleys, and those who work for non-hospital residential care institutions (such as certain nursing homes, assisted living, or group homes for individuals with mental or intellectual disabilities who live at the institution) must be paid 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for all hours worked over 48 per week. Federal law may require such employers to pay employees 1.5 times their usual hourly rate after 40 hours per week even when Maryland law requires it only after 48 hours. Agricultural workers who are not otherwise exempt from Maryland law must be paid 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for all hours worked over 60 per week.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Meal breaks
Minors under 18 may not work more than 5 hours continuously without a non-working break of at least half an hour. (minors under 18)
Source
All Minors: May not be employed or permitted to work more than five hours continuously without a non-working period of at least ½ hour.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
- Notes
- Adults have no general state break right; Maryland Labor says breaks are required only for minors and for employees of certain retail establishments (Healthy Retail Employee Act), see us-md-dol-wp-breaks.
Verified September 27, 2026
Pay frequency
Employees must be paid at least once every two weeks or twice a month, though executive, administrative and professional employees may be paid less often.
Source
Employees in Maryland must be paid at least once every two weeks or twice in a month. However, Executive, Professional and Administrative employees may be paid less frequently
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Final paycheck
When employment ends, the employer must pay all wages due for work performed on or before the day the employee would have been paid if the employment had not ended.
Source
Each employer shall pay an employee, or the authorized representative of an employee, all wages due for work that the employee performed before the termination of employment, on or before the day on which the employee would have been paid the wages if the employment had not terminated.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Paid sick leave
Employees whose primary work location is in Maryland accrue sick and safe leave at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked; employers with 15 or more employees must provide it paid, smaller employers unpaid.
Source
The Maryland Healthy Working Families Act (MHWFA – often referred to as “Sick and Safe Leave”) took effect February 11, 2018. The MHWFA requires all employers with employees whose primary work location is in Maryland to provide earned sick and safe leave, regardless of where the employer is located. Employers who employ 15 or more employees are required to provide paid earned safe and sick leave. Employers with less than 15 employees are required to provide unpaid earned sick and safe leave. Certain employees are exempt from the requirements of the law. All employees whose primary work location is in Maryland are entitled to accrue sick and safe leave unless they are exempt from coverage under the law. Leave accrues at the rate of one hour for every thirty hours that an employee works.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
- Notes
- Maryland Healthy Working Families Act (LE § 3-1301 et seq.); annual caps (40 hours used, 64 accrued) are in the statute and FAQ, not on this page.
Verified September 27, 2026
Tips
Employers may pay tipped employees (those earning more than $30 a month in tips) a cash wage of at least $3.63 an hour, must make up any gap to the minimum wage, and restaurants taking the credit must give a Tip Credit Wage Statement each pay period. (tipped employees)
Source
Tipped Employees (earning more than $30 per month in tips) must still earn at least the State Minimum Wage Rate per hour. Employers must pay at least $3.63 per hour. This amount plus tips must equal at least the State Minimum Wage Rate, and employers must cover any gap. Restaurants that rely on tips to reach minimum wage must give employees a written or electronic wage statement for each pay period showing the employee’s effective hourly rate of pay, including employer-paid cash wages plus tips. This is called a Tip Credit Wage Statement.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Young workers' hours
All minors must get a half-hour break after 5 continuous hours; 14- and 15-year-olds may work 3 hours on a school day, 8 hours on a non-school day, 18 hours in a school week and 40 in a non-school week, and 16- and 17-year-olds no more than 12 combined school and work hours a day. (minors under 18)
Source
All Minors: May not be employed or permitted to work more than five hours continuously without a non-working period of at least ½ hour. Minors 14—15: • *Non-school hours; • *3 hours on any day when school is in session; • 8 hours on any day when school is not in session • *18 hours in a school week; • 40 hours in any week when school is not in session; • *May only work between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. • *May work until 9:00 pm from June 1 until Labor Day. • The hours worked by a minor enrolled in a bona fide work- study or student-learner program when school is normally in session may not be counted towards the permissible hours of work prescribed above. *This is based upon a more restrictive Federal law. Minors 16—17: May spend no more than 12 hours in a combination of school hours and work hours each day. Must be allowed at least eight consecutive hours of non-work, non-school time in each 24-hour period.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Required poster
Maryland law requires employers to post the state minimum wage information (Labor and Employment Article, Title 3, Subtitle 4) conspicuously in the workplace.
Source
Minimum Wage Rev. 12/23 EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO POST THIS INFORMATION CONSPICUOUSLY. THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE LAW. TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE, CONSULT A LEGAL ADVISOR. PENALTIES ARE PRESCRIBED FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW. (Labor and Employment Article, Title 3, Subtitle 4, Annotated Code of Maryland)
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- Montgomery County employers must also post the county rate information.
Verified September 27, 2026
Recovering unpaid wages
Employees can file a signed wage claim form with the Maryland Employment Standards Service for unpaid wages, overtime, tips, final pay, unauthorized deductions and paychecks not received within two weeks of the pay date.
Source
You may file if your claim pertains to the following: Incorrect rate of pay or non-payment of wages Commission Failure to be compensated for a working break. Fringe not paid upon termination of the employment relationship, e.g., a quit, discharge, or layoff. (including unused vacation time or other promised benefit. Please note that reimbursement for these fringe benefits is contingent upon employers policy.) Liquidated damages for failure to receive minimum wage for each hour worked. Paycheck(s) not received within two weeks after scheduled pay date. Overtime Tips Remuneration (compensation) promised for work performed (i.e., room and board, materials and inventory, etc.). Unauthorized deductions from paychecks. Wages paid by check issued with insufficient funds. Failure to be paid for training. Failure to be paid for travel time. Need to file a claim? To request a claim form be mailed, call 410-767-2357 or you may download the claim form below. Be sure to answer all questions and follow directions when completing the claim form. The claim form must include your signature and be sent to ESS before an investigation is initiated.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Overtime-exempt salary threshold
Executive, administrative and professional employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime only if they meet the duties tests and are paid a salary of at least $684 per week ($35,568 a year). (executive, administrative, professional and outside sales employees)
Source: 29 C.F.R. Part 541
To qualify for exemption, employees generally must meet certain tests regarding their job duties and be paid on a salary basis at not less than $684 per week.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- The 2024 rule raising the level to $844/$1,128 was vacated in November 2024; DOL enforces the 2019 level of $684.
Verified September 26, 2026
$16.00 / hour
Calculators
Estimates before tax at this rate. Nothing you type leaves this page.
What this wage pays
| Weekly | $640.00 |
|---|---|
| Monthly52 weeks ÷ 12 | $2,773.33 |
| Annual52 weeks | $33,280.00 |
| Overtime rate1.5× where overtime applies | $24.00 |
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Census 2020
About ZIP boundaries
Shares of land come from the Census Bureau's 2020 ZCTA relationship files, which match ZIP Code Tabulation Areas to places and counties. A ZIP code is a mail route, not a legal boundary, so confirm the exact address on the jurisdiction's page.