Maine's minimum wage has gone up for the fourth consecutive year in a row.

As of January 1, 2020, the minimum wage has increased from $11 per hour to $12 Along with the wage increase, the minimum salary for exemption from overtime pay will increase from $33,000 per year to $36,000. Doing the math, if you make less than $692 a week, then you are entitled to overtime pay.

The increase is a hot topic of debate among Mainers.One on side, many people are worried that local businesses will not be able to handle the cost of the wage increase, threatening their ability to sustain. On the other side, many believe that Mainers need a livable wage, especially to survive in areas like Portland where the cost of living is significant.

A link to the history of Maine's minimum wage rates and increases and their comparison to the Federal minimum wage can be found on the State of Maine website at the link below. As of this writing, the list has yet to be updated for 2020.

 

 

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