Be ready for possible pay changes for employees as voters on November 8 approved a Maine minimum wage increase in 2017. Three other states—Arizona, Colorado, and Washington—also approved increases. Maine’s minimum wage will increase to $9.00/hour on January 1, 2017 and then $1 each year to reach $12.00/hour in 2020.
The wage for tipped employees in Maine will also increase from half the standard minimum wage to $5.00/hour on January 1, 2017, and then increase by $1 each year until it reaches the regular minimum wage for all other workers, with a 2024 deadline.
For workers in the City of Portland, the minimum wage is higher and will rise to $10.68/hour on January 1, 2017. Future increases after 2020 in Maine and after 2017 in Portland will be based on the consumer price index.
| Current Rate | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Maine | $7.50 | $9.00 | $10.00 | $11.00 | $12.00 |
| City of Portland | $10.10 | $10.68 |
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