Short answer. Howard County: $16.45 an hour for employers, smaller employers and the county government from January 1, 2027. Later increases follow the CPI-U.
$16.45
Howard County minimum wage from January 1, 2027 (+$0.45, 2.8%)
Howard County minimum wage at a glance
- 2027 rate
- $16.45 an hour from January 1, 2027
- 2026 rate
- $16.00 an hour from July 1, 2026
- Change
- +$0.45 an hour (2.8%)
- Maryland rate, 2027
- $15.00 an hour
- Howard County above Maryland
- $1.45 an hour (9.7%) in 2027
- Kind of rate
- County ordinance
- Official page
- Howard County: minimum wage
Howard County rate history: 2026 to 2027
Maryland Department of Labor: as of July 1, 2026, all Howard County employers, regardless of size, pay at least $16.00 an hour (smaller employers paid $15.50 from January 1, 2026). Howard County: $16.45 an hour for employers, smaller employers and the county government from January 1, 2027. Later increases follow the CPI-U. That is $0.45 more an hour, a 2.8% increase, for hours worked in Howard County on or after January 1, 2027.
Who the Howard County rate covers
From July 1, 2026 one Howard County rate applies to employers of every size, and the county government pays the same rate.
Howard County compared with the Maryland minimum wage
The Maryland general rate is $15.00 in 2026 and $15.00 in 2027. Howard County's $16.45 is $1.45 an hour, or 9.7%, above the state's 2027 rate; in 2026 the gap was $1.00. Over a 2,080-hour year that's $3,016 more than the state minimum for one full-time employee. See Maryland in the minimum wage by state table.
What the Howard County rate means for pay
Weekly gross pay at the Howard County minimum, before taxes. Hours over 40 are paid at time and a half under federal overtime rules. A full-time year of 2,080 hours comes to about $34,216 at the 2027 rate, against $33,280 at the 2026 rate and $31,200 at the Maryland 2027 rate.
| Schedule | Howard County 2026 | Howard County 2027 | Difference | Maryland 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full time, 40 hours | $640.00 | $658.00 | +$18.00 | $600.00 |
| Part time, 24 hours | $384.00 | $394.80 | +$10.80 | $360.00 |
| 44 hours (4 at time and a half) | $736.00 | $756.70 | +$20.70 | $690.00 |
For a staff list, the payroll change calculator works out raises against the Maryland rate; compare its results with Howard County's $16.45 for anyone who works in Howard County.
Updating payroll for Howard County
- List everyone who works in Howard County and is paid under $16.45 an hour, including part-time and seasonal staff and anyone who works there only some of the week.
- Set the new rate in payroll with an effective date of January 1, 2027, and split any pay period that crosses it so hours before the date stay at $16.00.
- Replace the Howard County minimum wage notice with the 2027 version from the official page.
For the Maryland rules beyond the local minimum wage (new hire reporting, unemployment tax, final pay and more), the Maryland Employer Compliance Kit 2027 ($19) has a checklist, a deadline calendar and an Excel tracker.
Other local rates in Maryland
- 1 more with 2027 not yet announced, in the local minimum wage table
Official sources for Howard County
- Howard County: minimum wage (checked November 2026)
- Maryland Department of Labor: Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law (county rates) (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal or payroll advice; we are not lawyers or payroll advisers. Checked November 2026 against the official Howard County pages above. A city or county can change a rate after we check, and coverage, employer-size rules and exemptions differ from place to place. Before you change payroll, confirm the rate with the local labor standards office, your payroll provider or an employment attorney. MCC Solutions isn't affiliated with any government agency.
Howard County minimum wage questions
What is the Howard County minimum wage in 2027?
$16.45 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $16.00. Howard County: $16.45 an hour for employers, smaller employers and the county government from January 1, 2027. Later increases follow the CPI-U.
How does the Howard County minimum wage compare with the Maryland rate?
In 2027, Howard County is $1.45 an hour (9.7%) above the Maryland rate of $15.00. In 2026 the gap was $1.00. Employers pay the Howard County rate for work done there.
How much is a full-time Howard County minimum wage job in 2027?
$658.00 a week for 40 hours, or about $34,216 a year at 2,080 hours, before taxes. That is $18.00 a week more than at the 2026 rate.
Who does the Howard County minimum wage cover?
From July 1, 2026 one Howard County rate applies to employers of every size, and the county government pays the same rate.
All localities: local minimum wage 2027 · Maryland minimum wage 2027 · Minimum wage by state