The Maine Labor Law Guide

Minimum wage is the lowest hourly rate an employer can legally pay. The federal rate sets a floor, and states, cities, and regions can adopt their own.

Most employees in Maine earn at least $15.10 per hour.

Some cities set higher local rates:

• Portland: $16.75 per hour.
• Rockland: $16.00 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees.

Tipped minimum wage is the lowest hourly cash wage for employees who earn a big share of their pay through tips. Employers must ensure that the total of an employee's cash wage and tips is at least $14.65 per hour.

The cash wage is $7.55 per hour for most tipped employees. Tips plus the $7.55 cash wage must equal at least the full minimum wage of $15.10 per hour. If they do not, the employer must pay the difference.

Local tipped wages are higher:

• Portland tipped wage: $8.38 per hour.
• Rockland tipped wage: $8.00 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees.

Maine has its own state overtime law under 26 M.R.S. 664. It generally mirrors federal overtime standards for hours worked but sets a higher salary threshold for certain overtime exemptions.

Standard rule: employers must pay non-exempt employees one and one-half (1.5x) times their regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

Employers must comply with both state and federal law and apply the rule that is more favorable to the employee.

Maine law requires that employees be offered the opportunity to take a rest break of at least 30 consecutive minutes after working 6 consecutive hours.

• This break may be unpaid.
• It does not apply in cases of emergency, or where there is a collective bargaining agreement or written agreement between employee and employer negotiating fewer breaks.
• The law applies only if three or more employees are on duty at the same time.

Earned paid leave (vacation and sick combined)

Maine's Earned Paid Leave (EPL) law covers both vacation and sick needs in a single bank.

• Coverage: applies to private employers with 10 or more employees.
• Accrual: employees earn 1 hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours per year.
• Usage: leave can be used for any reason (illness, vacation, emergency).

Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

• Status: contributions began January 1, 2025.
• Benefits start: eligible employees may begin applying for and receiving wage replacement benefits on May 1, 2026.
• Coverage: provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave for family or medical reasons (for example, bonding with a child or a serious health condition).

Holidays

Maine does not require private employers to provide paid or unpaid holiday leave.

Minors under 14

Generally prohibited from working in employment. Limited exceptions apply (for example, agricultural work or entertainment under separate rules).

Minors age 14-15

• Work permit required: must obtain a minor work permit before beginning employment.
• When school is in session: up to 3 hours per day and 18 hours per week, and cannot work during hours when school is in session.
• When school is not in session: up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.
• Time of day: between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM (extended to 9:00 PM during summer vacation and non-school periods).
• May not work more than 6 consecutive days.

Minors age 16-17

• When school is in session: up to 6 hours per school day and 24 hours per week, and cannot work during hours when school is in session.
• When school is not in session: up to 10 hours per day and 50 hours per week.
• Time of day: not before 7:00 AM on school days or 5:00 AM on non-school days, and not after 10:15 PM on school nights or midnight on non-school nights.
• May not work more than 6 consecutive days.