Maine tip laws (2026)
Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 an hour in 2026, and the tipped cash wage is half that, $7.55. Portland and Rockland set higher local rates. On January 1, 2027, the state minimum rises to $15.70 and the tipped cash wage to $7.85.
Maine at a glance
Tip credit allowedMaine: $15.10 an hour minimum wage. Tipped staff can be paid $7.55 cash, with up to $7.55 counted from tips.
| State minimum wage | $15.10/hr | Statewide from .[1] |
|---|---|---|
| Tipped cash wage | $7.55 | Plus up to $7.55 in tips = $15.10.[1] |
| Max tip credit | $7.55 | Counted from tips.[1] |
| Tip pooling | Allowed | Mandatory pools allowed.[2] |
| Card-fee deduction | Not allowed | The full tip goes to the worker.[2] |
| Card tip payout | Card tips are due by the next regular payday. | The employer can't wait to be paid by the card company.[2] |
| Local minimum wages | 2 places | Local rates on file. See all[1] |
Rates verified against the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards on . Rates as of . Tipped totals are worked out from the rates above. Download this data (CSV)
02The yes/no sheet
Can you do this in Maine?
In Maine you can take a tip credit of up to $7.55 an hour, can require staff to join a tip pool and can't take card processing fees out of tips. Each answer below carries its condition and an official source.
| Number | Can you… | Answer | The condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Take a tip credit against minimum wage? | Yes | Pay at least $7.55 cash and count up to $7.55 in tips. Tips must cover the gap.[1] |
| 02 | Make staff join a tip pool? | Yes | Allowed, as long as only eligible staff share.[2] |
| 03 | Include bartenders, bussers, runners and hosts? | Depends | Bartender, busser, food runner and host: with a tip credit, pools are service workers only. Without one, everyone in the pool gets the full minimum. Duties decide.[2] |
| 04 | Include cooks and dishwashers? | Depends | Cooks and dishwashers can join only a no-credit pool where every member gets the full state minimum.[2] |
| 05 | Give managers or supervisors a share? | No | Federal rules keep managers and supervisors out of other workers' tips. Tips for service they alone provide are separate.[3] |
| 06 | Let an owner keep any of the tips? | No | Federal rules bar the employer from keeping workers' tips, including through a pool.[3] |
| 07 | Pick your own split (hours, points or percentages)? | Depends | The employer can set up a valid pool. The advance notice has to state any required contribution. No state percentage.[2] |
| 08 | Take card processing fees out of tips? | No | The worker gets the full tip on the slip.[2] |
| 09 | Hold card tips until payday? | Deadline | Card tips are due by the next regular payday. The employer can't wait to be paid by the card company.[2] |
| 10 | Cover walkouts, breakage or register shortages from tips? | No | Not from tips.[4][2] |
| 11 | Keep a mandatory service charge for the house? | Depends | Only if you clearly tell guests it doesn't go to staff.[5] Some cities have their own rules. |
| 12 | Pay tips on a payroll card? | Yes | Allowed. Offer another way to get paid too.[5][2] |
03State vs federal
Maine vs federal law
Maine sets a stricter rule than federal law on 4 of the 10 rules below, starting with a $15.10 minimum wage against the federal $7.25. Where the two differ, the rule that is better for the worker applies.
| Rule | Federal (FLSA) | Maine | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum wageStricter | Federal$7.25[3] | Maine$15.10[1] | Stricter |
| Tipped cash wageStricter | Federal$2.13[3] | Maine$7.55[1] | Stricter |
| Max tip creditHigher credit | Federal$5.12[3] | Maine$7.55[1] | Higher credit |
| Who counts as tippedState rule | FederalMore than $30 a month in tips, customarily and regularly received in the occupation.[3] | MaineCustomarily and regularly more than $191 a month in tips in 2026. The threshold rises to $199 in 2027.[6] | State rule |
| Managers in the poolFederal applies | FederalManagers/supervisors meeting the executive duties test cannot keep employees’ tips or receive from pools; they may keep only tips received directly for services they directly and solely provide. No salary-level test is used for this tip restriction.[3] | MaineFederal rules keep managers and supervisors out of other workers' tips. Tips for service they alone provide are separate.[3] | Federal applies |
| Kitchen in the poolState rule | FederalCooks and dishwashers may join a nontraditional mandatory pool only when all workers receive a direct cash wage of at least the full federal minimum wage and no tip credit is taken; employer/managers/supervisors remain excluded. State law may be stricter.[3] | MaineCooks and dishwashers can join only a no-credit pool where every member gets the full state minimum.[2] | State rule |
| Card fees from tipsStricter | FederalOnly the actual proportional credit-card transaction fee may be deducted from charged tips; no deduction exceeding that fee or reducing required minimum wages; state law may forbid even that deduction.[3] | MaineNot allowed[2] | Stricter |
| Card tip payoutState rule | FederalCharged tips due by regular payday, without waiting for processor reimbursement. Employer-administered pools fully distributed by regular payday for the workweek/pay period; if the amount/distribution cannot be determined before payroll, distribute as soon as practicable afterward.[3] | MaineCard tips are due by the next regular payday. The employer can't wait to be paid by the card company.[2] | State rule |
| Mandatory service chargesStricter | FederalA compulsory service charge is not an FLSA tip. Amounts distributed to employees are wages that may satisfy wage obligations and must enter the regular rate for overtime. This federal wage classification does not decide contractual or state-law ownership.[3] | MaineStaff's money unless you tell guests otherwise[5] | Stricter |
| Overtime for tipped staffState rule | FederalFor covered nonexempt employees, overtime generally begins after 40 hours in a workweek. Use the full regular rate, at least the full federal minimum wage, not $2.13; the hourly tip credit is not increased for overtime. Voluntary tips above the tip credit are excluded; distributed service charges enter the regular rate.[3] | MaineAfter 40 hours. Figure overtime from the full minimum or regular rate, then subtract only the normal tip credit.[1] | State rule |
Every state starts from the same federal floor. Federal tip law baseline: the FLSA rules, rates and sources, and how Maine fits among the four tip credit classes.
04Wages
Minimum wage and the tip credit in Maine
In Maine employers can pay tipped staff $7.55 an hour and count up to $7.55 in tips toward the $15.10 minimum. If tips fall short, the employer makes up the difference.[1]
One server, one slow 30-hour week in Maine
A busy week with $226.50 or more in tips needs no top-up. Every tip above that is the server's. Fictional worker and tips.
- Tip credit conditions
- The credit is capped at 50% of the state minimum. Cash plus tips must reach the minimum each week, with advance notice and valid pooling.[2]
- Who counts as tipped
- Customarily and regularly more than $191 a month in tips in 2026. The threshold rises to $199 in 2027.[6]
- Overtime
- After 40 hours. Figure overtime from the full minimum or regular rate, then subtract only the normal tip credit.[1]
- Side work and dual jobs
- No state rule. Federal rule applies: current 29 CFR 531.56(e) is the restored 1967 occupation-based dual-jobs rule. No tip credit for a separate non-tipped occupation; related duties within the tipped occupation need not themselves produce tips. The vacated 2021 federal 80/20 and 30-continuous-minute limits are not current regulatory limits. FAB 2026-1 withdraws historical opinion letters and confirms WHD enforcement guidance no longer sets specific time limits; it is agency guidance, not a new statute or regulation.[7][8][2]
Other rates
One statewide rate. No employer-size, industry or youth rates in Maine.
Scheduled increases
- Now, since $15.10
- $15.70General statewide minimum wage. 26 MRS 664(1) annual CPI indexing. Tipped cash wage $7.85 and maximum credit $7.85 in 2027[1]
05Local rates
City and county minimum wages in Maine
2 cities and counties in Maine set their own minimum wage, from $16.00 in Rockland to $16.75 in Portland. A restaurant inside one of them pays the local rate, not the $15.10 state rate.[1]
| City or county | Rate | vs state $15.10 | Tipped cash wage | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PortlandCity code sets $17.75 for 2027 and $19.00 for 2028. The tipped wage is 50% of the minimum, rounded up.[10] | $16.75 | +$1.65 over state | $8.38 | Next change |
| RocklandCitywide rate. State overtime and notice rules still apply.[12] | $16.00 | +$0.90 over state | $8.00 |
Local service charge rules are in the service charges section.
06Tip pool
Who can be in the tip pool in Maine
Maine allows tip pools, and employers can make them mandatory. Owners, managers and supervisors can't share in them. A tip pool collects tips and splits them among staff; a tip-out is one worker handing part of their tips to others.
| Role | Can share? | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Front of house | ||
| Server | Depends | With a tip credit, pools are service workers only. Without one, everyone in the pool gets the full minimum. Duties decide.[2] |
| Bartender | Depends | With a tip credit, pools are service workers only. Without one, everyone in the pool gets the full minimum. Duties decide.[2] |
| Busser | Depends | With a tip credit, pools are service workers only. Without one, everyone in the pool gets the full minimum. Duties decide.[2] |
| Food runner | Depends | With a tip credit, pools are service workers only. Without one, everyone in the pool gets the full minimum. Duties decide.[2] |
| Host | Depends | With a tip credit, pools are service workers only. Without one, everyone in the pool gets the full minimum. Duties decide.[2] |
| Barback | Depends | With a tip credit, pools are service workers only. Without one, everyone in the pool gets the full minimum. Duties decide.[2] |
| Expo | Depends | With a tip credit, pools are service workers only. Without one, everyone in the pool gets the full minimum. Duties decide.[2] |
| Back of house | ||
| Cook | Depends | Only in a no-credit pool where everyone gets the full state minimum.[2] |
| Dishwasher | Depends | Only in a no-credit pool where everyone gets the full state minimum.[2] |
| Leadership | ||
| Shift lead | Depends | With a tip credit, pools are service workers only. Without one, everyone in the pool gets the full minimum. Duties decide.[2] |
| Manager or supervisor | Not allowed | Federal rules bar them from other workers' pooled tips.[2] |
| Owner | Not allowed | Federal rules bar them from other workers' pooled tips.[2] |
- Managers and supervisors
- Federal rules keep managers and supervisors out of other workers' tips. Tips for service they alone provide are separate.[3]
- Owners
- Federal rules bar the employer from keeping workers' tips, including through a pool.[3]
- Back of house
- Cooks and dishwashers can join only a no-credit pool where every member gets the full state minimum.[2]
- Who sets the percentages
- The employer can set up a valid pool. The advance notice has to state any required contribution. No state percentage.[2]
- Cap on what a pool can take
- No state rule. Federal rule applies: no federal percentage or amount cap for a valid mandatory pool; eligibility, notice and minimum wage rules still apply.[3][2]
- Pooling allowed
- Yes.[2]
07Put it to work
Setting up a tip pool in Maine
Under Maine rules, 6 of the 10 staff in this example can share a $1,200 pool. The table splits the same pool by percentage, by points and by hours.
| Who | By % | By points | By hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maya | $268.29 | $250.00 | $211.78 |
| Jordan | $268.29 | $250.00 | $211.76 |
| Priya | $268.29 | $250.00 | $211.76 |
| Sam | $175.61 | $200.00 | $211.76 |
| Luis | $109.76 | $125.00 | $176.47 |
| Ava | $109.76 | $125.00 | $176.47 |
| Theo | Not in the pool. Out here: this pool includes servers paid with a tip credit. | ||
| Kim | Not in the pool. Out here: this pool includes servers paid with a tip credit. | ||
| Rafa | Not in the pool. Out here: this pool includes servers paid with a tip credit. | ||
| Dana | Not in the pool. Federal rules bar them from other workers' pooled tips. | ||
| Total | $1,200.00 | $1,200.00 | $1,200.00 |
Fictional restaurant and staff. The guest-facing staff here are assumed to meet Maine's condition for sharing (see who can be in the tip pool, above). Percentages and point weights are examples, not a recommendation. Shares are rounded to the cent, and any leftover cent goes to the first server. Run your own numbers in the tip pooling calculator.
Ferry Tip Manager: support pool split by hours
Servers and bartenders pay into the support pool, and Tip Manager splits it by hours worked. Each person sees their share, with no spreadsheet at close.
Who it's for Full-service restaurants that tip out bussers, runners and bar backs
08Service charges
Service charges vs tips in Maine
In Maine a mandatory service charge is presumed to belong to staff unless the business clearly tells guests otherwise.
| Question | OptionalTip | MandatoryService charge |
|---|---|---|
| Who sets the amount | The guest | The business |
| Who it belongs to | The worker it was left for, or the pool | Staff, unless the business clearly tells guests otherwise.[5] |
| Can it go to staff? | Yes, through the pool | Yes. Amounts paid to staff are wages, not tips.[3] |
| How it's taxed (federal) | Tip income the worker reports | Regular wages, with payroll taxes[13][14] |
| Guest notice | None needed | The banquet or private-club customer has to be told the service charge isn't a tip for the staff.[2] |
- Step 1Did the guest choose whether to pay it, and how much?YesIt's a tip. It belongs to staff.NoIt's a mandatory charge. Go to step 2.
- Step 2What does Maine say?Staff own it unless disclosedStaff, unless the business clearly tells guests otherwise.[5]
- Step 3Check the cityPortland: Portland's code repeats the state automatic-tip rule and the banquet and private-club exception.[11]
- Menu and receipt notice
- The banquet or private-club customer has to be told the service charge isn't a tip for the staff.[2]
- Large-party auto gratuities
- Automatic tips on the bill belong to service staff. Agreed banquet and private-club charges are a disclosed exception.[2]
Local service charge rules
- Portland. Portland's code repeats the state automatic-tip rule and the banquet and private-club exception.[11]
More on the difference: service charge vs tip.
09Card tips
Card tips in Maine: fees and payout timing
In Maine the card processing fee can't come out of a worker's tip; the full tip goes to the worker. Payout deadline: card tips are due by the next regular payday. The employer can't wait to be paid by the card company.
The employer pays the card fees. Nothing comes out of tips charged to a card.[2]
When card tips have to land
- TonightGuest adds a tip On the card, at the table.
- CloseShift is tallied The pool is split by your rules.
- DeadlineMaine rule Card tips are due by the next regular payday. The employer can't wait to be paid by the card company.[2]
- Last dayFinal pay Full wages by the next set payday. Vacation payout and offsets have their own rules.[15]
Paydays: A set payday no more than 16 days apart, covering wages earned through 8 days before payday.[16]
Paying tips on a payroll card
- Allowed?Yes
- Worker consent needed?Yes (federal)No state rule. Federal rule applies: yes. The employer cannot require its payroll card.[17][2]
- Free way to get the money?State ruleThe full net pay can be withdrawn free at first, or the worker can pick another no-cost way to get paid.[5]
- Must you offer another option?Yes
- Holding cash tipsFederal ruleNo state rule. Federal rule applies: employer may collect to administer a valid pool, then distribute under the regular-payday rule. No broader authorization to retain cash tips is established.[3][2]
- Tips shown on the pay stubNo (federal)No state rule. Federal rule applies: no. FLSA does not require pay stubs; state laws and employer records are separate.[18][19]
Ferry Pay: each tip share, paid out digitally
Each person's direct tips, tip outs and payable amount in one view, then paid through Ferry Pay. No cash to keep on hand for payouts. Eligibility and fees apply.
Who it's for Operators who want to stop the nightly cash run
“Since launching this card program, we've reduced our cash-carrying costs by over 66 percent”
10Records
Records and notices in Maine
Keep each tipped worker's tips and hours on record, shift by shift. Maine: at least 3 years.
Maine State
- Tip records Keep accurate hours and wages. Each pay statement shows pay-period dates, hours, earnings and itemized deductions.[19]
- How long to keep them At least 3 years.[19]
- Tip credit notice Required. Tell workers in advance, in writing or out loud: the cash wage, the credit, that it can't exceed real tips, and any required pool share.[2]
- Posters and forms Maine minimum-wage/overtime poster under 26 MRS 42-B; Portland minimum-wage notice and first-paycheck wage notice where applicable.[20][10]
Everywhere Federal
- Tip records Maintain employee identity, time and pay records. Tip-credit employers additionally retain tipped employee, reported tips, credit amounts and hours/earnings by tipped and nontipped occupation. No-tip-credit employers operating mandatory pools record each recipient and weekly/monthly tips. IRS daily records/reporting are separate obligations.[3]
- How long to keep them FLSA: payroll records at least three years; underlying wage-computation records two years. Tax retention is separate.[21]
- Tip credit notice Oral or written notice must state cash wage; tip credit amount; credit cannot exceed actual tips; employee retains tips except valid traditional pool; credit unavailable until informed. Traditional pool contribution amounts also disclosed.[3]
- A written pool policy Good practice, not a federal rule: who's in, how it splits, when it pays. Share it with staff. How to write one.
Think your tips were handled wrong in Maine?
Workers in Maine can file a tip or wage claim with the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards (207-623-7900). Filing is free, and this page can't settle a dispute; the state can.[6]
- Phone
- 207-623-7900[6]
- Website
- www1.maine.gov/labor/bls
Retaliation: No firing or punishment for minimum-wage complaints to the state or county attorney.[22]
Penalties: Unpaid minimum wages plus an equal amount in damages and fees, and fines of $50 to $200. Unpaid final pay adds double damages and interest.[23]
Can they take this out of my tips?
- Walkouts and dine-and-dashNot allowedTips can't cover employer losses, card fees or employer and manager shares.[4]
- BreakageNot allowedTips can't cover employer losses, card fees or employer and manager shares.[4]
- Register shortagesNot allowedTips can't cover employer losses, card fees or employer and manager shares.[4]
- UniformsNot allowedNo deduction for uniforms that benefit the employer. A voluntary written cleaning deal is separate.[2]
- Card processing feesNot allowedTips can't cover employer losses, card fees or employer and manager shares.[2]
- A manager's shareNot allowedTips can't cover employer losses, card fees or employer and manager shares.[2]
11Law changes
What changed in Maine tip law, and what's coming
Next scheduled change: the Maine minimum wage goes to $15.70 on .
- ComingMinimum wage goes to $15.70 (General statewide minimum wage).[1]
Key statutes
- 26 MRS 663–665
- 26 MRS 621-A,626,629
- 26 MRS 670–671
- 26 MRS 42-B
Not covered here? Ask the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards at 207-623-7900 or on www1.maine.gov/labor/bls.
12FAQ
Maine tip law questions
Plain answers to the 8 questions restaurant owners and staff ask most about Maine tip law, each linked to its source.
What is Maine's tipped minimum wage?
What changes in 2027?
What is Portland's tipped wage?
Can cooks join a Maine tip pool?
Only in a pool with no tip credit where everyone gets the full state minimum. If the employer takes a credit, the pool is service workers only.[2]
Can managers get pooled tips?
Can card fees come out of tips?
No. Maine bans taking card fees out of tips, and card tips are due by the next regular payday.[2]
Is an automatic gratuity a tip?
When is final pay due?
By the next set payday.[15]
13Compare
How Maine compares with nearby states
Maine borders New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. None of the neighbors with a page pays a higher minimum wage than Maine's $15.10. Running locations on both sides of a line? Each one follows its own state's rules.
Neighboring states
States with the same rules
Same tip credit class as Maine: Tip credit, cash wage above federal.
- New Jersey tip laws$15.92 min wage $6.05 tipped cash wage Also a tip credit with a cash wage above $2.13, and no card fees from tips
- Colorado tip laws$15.16 min wage $12.14 tipped cash wage Also a tip credit with a cash wage above $2.13, and no card fees from tips
- Pennsylvania tip laws$7.25 min wage $2.83 tipped cash wage Also a tip credit with a cash wage above $2.13, and no card fees from tips
- Michigan tip laws$13.73 min wage $5.49 tipped cash wage Also a tip credit with a cash wage above $2.13, and no card fees from tips
- Delaware tip laws$15.00 min wage $2.23 tipped cash wage Also a tip credit with a cash wage above $2.13, and no card fees from tips
- Missouri tip laws$15.00 min wage $7.50 tipped cash wage Also a tip credit with a cash wage above $2.13
The law decides who's in. Ferry runs the split.
See how operators set pool rules in Ferry Tip Manager and pay tips out without a cash run. Bring your own Maine setup.
14Sources
Sources for Maine tip laws
Every figure on this page links to one of these 24 sources: 17 for Maine and 7 for the federal baseline. They are statutes, regulations and government agency pages, each with the date it was checked.
- 1New Minimum Wage IncreasesMaine Department of Labor · Official source · Checked Pinpoint: 2026 statewide table; 2027 statewide table; Lists Portland and Rocklandwww1.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/minimumwagefaq
What the source says
“1/1/2026 $15.10 $7.55 $7.55”
“1/1/2027 $15.70 $7.85 $7.85”
“Maine Municipalities with Local Minimum Wage Ordinances”
- 226 MRS 664 Minimum Wage and TipsMaine Legislature · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: 26 MRS 664(2); 664(2)(F), 2-A; statutory employer-established poollegislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26sec664.html
What the source says
“An employer may consider tips as part of the wages of a service employee, but such a tip credit may not exceed 50%”
“Minimum wage; overtime rate”
“If the employer uses a tip pooling arrangement, any required tip pool contribution amount from the employee.”
- 3Fact Sheet 15 Tipped Employees Under the FLSAUnited States Department of Labor · Official source · Checked Pinpoint: Employers, Including Managers and Supervisors, May Not Keep Tips; Employers may not keep tips; Tip Credit, paragraph 2www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/15-tipped-employees-flsa
What the source says
“A manager or supervisor may keep only those tips that they receive directly from a customer for the service they directly and solely provide.”
“Regardless of whether an employer takes a tip credit, the FLSA prohibits employers from keeping any portion of employees’ tips for any purpose, whether directly or through a tip pool.”
“An employer must pay a tipped worker at least $2.13 per hour under the FLSA.”
- 426 MRS 629 Unfair AgreementsMaine Legislature · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: 629(2) or 664(2), 2-Alegislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26sec629.html
What the source says
“such as cash shortages, inventory shortages, dishonored checks, dishonored credit cards, damages to the employer's property in any form or any merchandise purchased by a customer.”
- 526 MRS 663 DefinitionsMaine Legislature · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: 663(15); 663(5), conditions apply; 663(5)legislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26sec663.html
What the source says
“including a charge automatically included in the customer's bill.”
“automated teller machine card or other means of electronic transfer”
“the employee either can make an initial withdrawal of the entire net pay without additional cost to the employee or the employee can choose another means of payment that involves no additional cost to the employee”
- 62026 Minimum Wage PosterMaine Department of Labor · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: 2026 Service Employee; Contactwww1.maine.gov/labor/docs/2026/posters/minwage/English_minimum_wage.pdf
What the source says
“A service employee is someone who regularly receives more than $191 a month in tips.”
“Maine Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Standards”
“www.maine.gov/labor/bls”
- 7Tip Regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)U.S. Department of Labor · Official source · Checked Pinpoint: Regulatory History 2020-2024, item 3; Regulatory History, item 4; Tip regulation topics listwww.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/tips
What the source says
“a federal court vacated the revision, with the effect of reinstating the Department’s original dual jobs regulation.”
“On December 16, 2024, the Department announced a technical rule to restore the original dual jobs regulation at 29 CFR 531.56(e) .”
“29 CFR 531.56(e) ); and Calculating overtime pay for tipped employees ( 29 CFR 531.60 ).”
- 8Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2026-1U.S. Department of Labor · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: p. 1, introductory paragraphs; p. 1, introductionwww.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/fab/fab2026-1.pdf
What the source says
“These withdrawn opinion letters and the FOH provision that implemented them should no longer be relied upon as WHD enforcement guidance.”
“withdrawn on January 14, 2025 (see WHD FOH Revision 785), no longer reflects the Division’s policy or interpretation of the Act.”
“This Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) withdraws Wage and Hour Division (WHD or Division) Opinion Letters FLSA-895 (Aug. 8, 1979); WH-502 (Mar. 28, 1980); and FLSA-854, 1985 WL 1259240 (Dec. 20, 1985).”
- 9Maine Employee Rights GuideMaine Department of Labor · Official source · Checked www1.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/employeerightsguide
- 10Portland 2026 Minimum Wage NoticeCity of Portland · Official source · Checked Pinpoint: 2026 notice; Noticecontent.civicplus.com/api/assets/773a850c-6417-4d5a-bb52-5b1afdbe9ca5
What the source says
“Minimum Wage in the City of Portland is $16.75 per hour”
“Paycheck Notice”
- 11Portland Code Chapter 33 Minimum WageCity of Portland · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: Portland 33.2 Definitions PDF p. 3content.civicplus.com/api/assets/3899b6d8-7441-4566-853b-0491ef6bc426?cache=1800
What the source says
““Tip” does not include a service charge added to a customer’s bill in a banquet or private club setting by agreement between the customer and the Employer.”
- 12Rockland 2026 Minimum Wage NoticeCity of Rockland · Official source · Checked rocklandmaine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2670/2026-Minimum-Wage-Notice---Rockland?bidId=
What the source says
“Rockland is $16.00 per hour”
- 13Tip recordkeeping and reportingInternal Revenue Service · Official source · Checked Pinpoint: Service charges are not tips, paragraph 2; qualified tips deduction, net-income limit; tip income, Social Security/Medicarewww.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/tip-recordkeeping-and-reporting
What the source says
“Service charges (also referred to as “auto-gratuities”), when distributed to an employee, are generally treated as wages paid by the employer to the employee rather than tips paid by the customer.”
“For self-employed individuals, the deduction may not exceed the individual’s net income (without regard to this deduction) from the trade or business in which the tips were earned.”
“These amounts are subject to federal income tax and generally are also subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes.”
- 14Revenue Ruling 2012-18Internal Revenue Service · Official source · Page updated 2012 · Checked Pinpoint: Q 1/A 1, four distinguishing factors; p. 1, ruling headingwww.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-12-18.pdf
What the source says
“compulsion; (2) the customer must have the unrestricted right to determine the amount; (3) the payment should not be the subject of negotiation or dictated by employer policy; and (4) generally, the customer has the right to determine who receives the payment.”
“Rev. Rul. 2012-18”
- 1526 MRS 626 Final PayMaine Legislature · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: 626legislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26sec626.html
What the source says
“An employee leaving employment must be paid in full no later than the employee's next established payday.”
- 1626 MRS 621-A Timely PaymentMaine Legislature · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: 621-A(1),(2); Statutory headinglegislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26sec621-A.html
What the source says
“At regular intervals not to exceed 16 days, every employer must pay in full all wages earned by each employee”
“Timely and full payment of wages”
- 17What is a payroll card?Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: definition, paragraph 1; paragraph following definitionwww.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-payroll-card-en-401
What the source says
“A payroll card is a prepaid card arranged by an employer for the purpose of paying its employees’ wages or salary.”
“Your employer can’t require you to receive your wages on a payroll card.”
“Your employer has to offer you at least one alternative to a payroll card.”
- 18Questions and Answers About the FLSA, DOL WHDU.S. Department of Labor · Official source · Checked Pinpoint: Recordkeeping and Notices, Are pay stubs required?www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/faq
What the source says
“However, the FLSA does not require an employer to provide employees pay stubs.”
- 1926 MRS 665 RecordsMaine Legislature · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: 665(1); general statement required, separate tip line not expressly prescribed; 665(1)legislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26sec665.html
What the source says
“a statement that clearly shows the date of the pay period, the hours, total earnings and itemized deductions.”
“Every employer subject to this subchapter shall keep a true and accurate record of the hours worked by each employee and of the wages paid”
“such records to be preserved by the employer for a period of at least 3 years”
- 2026 MRS 42-B PostingMaine Legislature · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: 42-B(3); Statutory headinglegislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26sec42-B.html
What the source says
“shall post and keep posted in a place accessible to the employer's employees a copy of the poster or notice furnished by the bureau.”
“Bureau to furnish poster or notice”
- 21Fact Sheet #21: Recordkeeping Requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)U.S. Department of Labor · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: Posting, paragraph 1www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/21-flsa-recordkeeping
What the source says
“Each employer shall preserve for at least three years payroll records, collective bargaining agreements, sales and purchase records.”
“Employers must display an official poster outlining the provisions of the Act, available at no cost from local offices of the Wage and Hour Division and toll-free, by calling 1-866-4USWage (1-866-487-9243).”
“Records on which wage computations are based should be retained for two years,”
- 2226 MRS 671 Penalties and RetaliationMaine Legislature · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: 671legislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26sec671.html
What the source says
“Any employer, who discharges or in any other manner discriminates against any employee because such employee makes a complaint to the director or to the county attorney”
- 2326 MRS 670 Employees RemediesMaine Legislature · Official source · Page updated · Checked Pinpoint: 670; Statutory headinglegislature.maine.gov/statutes/26/title26sec670.html
What the source says
“an additional amount equal to such wages as liquidated damages, and costs of suit including a reasonable attorney's fee.”
“Employees' remedies”
- 242027 Minimum Wage AnnouncementMaine Department of Labor · Corroborating source · Page updated · Checked www1.maine.gov/labor/news_events/article.shtml?id=13362373
15Methodology
How we research these pages
Every figure on this page comes from an official source, a statute, a regulation or a government agency page, and links to it where it is used. Ferry checks the page against those sources on a schedule and logs every change.
- 1
Official sources only
Statutes, regulations, state labor agencies, city ordinances and the U.S. Department of Labor. No vendor blogs, no AI answers, no secondary summaries as the only source.
- 2
Every figure is linked
Each rate and rule carries a numbered link to the statute or agency page behind it, with the exact pinpoint and, where available, a link that opens at the sentence itself.
- 3
Re-checked on a schedule
Every page is re-checked each January and July, and whenever a state or city changes a rate. Cash wage plus tip credit is checked against the minimum wage on every build.
- 4
Gaps are left out, not guessed
If a rule can't be confirmed from an official source, it isn't shown. The page points to the state agency instead.
What changed on this page
- First version of this page. Every figure was checked against the official sources listed on this page.
Researched by Ferry's tip operations research team. Last reviewed .
Changes to the law itself are listed in What changed and what's coming.
16Every state
Tip laws in every state
Pick any state for its tip credit, tip pool, service charge and card tip rules. Each chip shows the state's tip credit class.
- No tip creditNo tip credit
- Above $2.13Tip credit, cash wage above federal
- $2.13 cashTip credit, federal cash wage
- FederalFederal rates apply
51 of 51 state pages. Open the master guide for the federal baseline, tip credit classes and the full comparison table.