Maine’s minimum wage hike sparks debate on economy and local business challenges

As of New Year’s Day, Maine’s minimum wage increased to $15.10 per hour with the start of the new year. For employees in Portland, minimum wage for non- tipped employees went up to $16.75.

“Having these automatic increase every year just helps keep workers a lot and makes sure they don’t fall behind,” Maine Center for Economic Policy Analyst James Myall said.

Click here to read the full story, first published January 1, 2026 in WGME.