March 16, 2022

Minimum Wage in County Will Increase on July 1 to $15.65 for Large Employers

The minimum wage will again increase in Montgomery County on July 1. Sponsored by then-County Councilmember, and now County Executive, Marc Elrich, the legislation concerning increases in the County minimum wage was signed on Nov. 17, 2017. Bill 28-17 raises the minimum wage incrementally each July 1.
 
Based on the Consumer Price Index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) for the Washington-Baltimore region, the Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer has set the rate for the increase of minimum wage for July 2022 for large employers (those with 51 employees or more) at $15.65 per hour. After hitting the $15 minimum wage rate last year, the law now requires the Chief Administrative Officer to adjust the rate each year. The change is based on the previous calendar year. Previous years were based on rate of increase determined by the Montgomery County Council to get to $15.

"This is an important next step to ensure that the minimum wage keeps up with inflation,” said County Executive Elrich. “For too long, the minimum wage was stagnant and did not change based on inflation. I was proud to champion the increase in minimum wage when I was a County Councilmember and pleased to see it finally reached $15 per hour for large employers last year, and under the law, once the minimum wage hits $15, it is then increased based on inflation so that low wage workers are not left behind. A decent wage is the path to more opportunity and improved equity."

Effective date 

Large employer 

Mid-sized employer 

Small Employer 

July 1, 2022 

$15.65

$14.50 

$14 

July 1, 2023 

Increased annually by CPI-W 

$15 

$14.50