Maine Minimum Wage 2026
Current minimum wage, scheduled increases, tipped worker rules, and political context for Maine’s wage policy in 2026.
$14.65
Current Minimum Wage
$15.10 (est.)
Projected 2026 Rate
$7.33
Tipped Worker Rate
CPI-indexed annually
Scheduled Increases
Minimum Wage Overview
Maine voters passed Question 4 in 2016, raising the minimum wage with annual CPI adjustments. Portlnd has a higher local minimum. Maine was an early adopter of CPI indexing, preventing wage erosion. The initial initiative also included a tipped worker increase that was subsequently modified.
Wage Policy Details
| Policy | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Minimum Wage | $14.65/hour |
| Tipped Worker Minimum | $7.33/hour |
| Scheduled Increases | CPI-indexed annually |
| Projected 2026 Rate | $15.10 (est.)/hour |
| Legislative Source | Question 4 (2016) + CPI |
| Passed by Ballot Initiative | 2016 |
Political Context
The 2016 initiative passed narrowly. The tipped worker provision was controversial in the restaurant industry. The legislature modified the tipped minimum after passage, sparking debate about respecting voter initiative intent.