Non-Compete Laws in Maryland
Restricted by income threshold
Maryland restricts non-competes for low-wage workers earning less than 150% of the state minimum wage ($49,920 in 2026), veterinarians and vet techs, and healthcare providers providing direct patient care who earn $350,000 or less. For higher-earning healthcare providers, non-competes are limited to 10 miles from primary workplace and 1 year.
Key details
| Enforceability | Restricted by income threshold |
|---|---|
| Income threshold | 49920 — Workers earning less than 150% of the state minimum wage ($49,920 in 2026) are protected. |
| Banned industries | Veterinarians, vet techs, and healthcare providers earning $350,000 or less are protected. |
| Blue pencil doctrine | Varies |
| Key statute | Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. §3-716 |
What this means for you
If you earn below the wage threshold or work in a protected healthcare role, your non-compete may be void or restricted.
Non-compete laws in Maryland: what you need to know
Maryland restricts non-competes on multiple fronts. The state prohibits non-competes for low-wage workers earning less than 150% of the state minimum wage (approximately $46,800 in 2026, with the threshold increasing when the minimum wage is adjusted). This protection ensures that lower-paid workers, who have the least bargaining power and the fewest resources to challenge non-competes in court, are not bound by them.
Effective July 1, 2025, Maryland enacted extensive new restrictions specifically for medical professionals. Non-competes are prohibited for licensed medical professionals providing direct patient care who earn $350,000 or less annually. For medical professionals earning above that amount, non-competes are limited to one year in duration and a 10-mile radius from the primary workplace. These restrictions reflect growing concern about the impact of physician non-competes on patient access to care.
Maryland also provides specific protections for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, who cannot be bound by non-compete agreements. This makes Maryland one of a growing number of states that have identified specific professions where non-competes cause particular harm.
For workers who are not in a protected category and earn above the threshold, Maryland courts evaluate non-competes under traditional reasonableness standards. Agreements must protect a legitimate business interest and be reasonable in scope, duration, and geographic area. Maryland courts have been moderately willing to enforce reasonable non-competes but will not uphold agreements that are overly broad.
More Maryland workplace laws
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Frequently asked questions about non-compete laws in Maryland
Non-competes are prohibited for employees earning less than 150% of the state minimum wage, which is approximately $46,800 per year in 2026. This threshold adjusts when the minimum wage changes. Additionally, medical professionals earning $350,000 or less are protected regardless of this general threshold.
If you earn $350,000 or less and provide direct patient care, your non-compete is void. If you earn more than $350,000, your non-compete is limited to one year and a 10-mile radius from your primary workplace. These restrictions took effect July 1, 2025.
Yes. Maryland specifically prohibits non-compete agreements for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
Maryland's restrictions focus primarily on non-compete agreements. Non-solicitation agreements may still be enforceable if they are reasonable in scope and protect a legitimate business interest, though the healthcare-specific restrictions may also limit non-solicitation provisions for medical professionals.
You are not legally required to sign a non-compete, and if you do sign one, it is void and unenforceable. If your employer takes adverse action against you for refusing to sign, consult an employment attorney.