By Jean Marbella
Baltimore Sun, July 2, 2026. Also Yahoo News.
At just 18 and with several jobs already under his belt, Mason Byrd has already learned a truth about the lower end of the wage scale.
"The reality is," the Ellicott City resident said, "there is a difference between minimum wage and a living wage."
On Wednesday, the minimum wage in Howard County rose to $16 an hour for all employees regardless of size, part of a series of phased-in increases mandated by a 2021 law ...
At BA Auto Care in Columbia, Byrd started at $16 an hour last year and now makes $17 an hour, hired as part of an apprenticeship program while he completed his studies at Centennial High School and Howard County Community College. ... He appreciates being paid above the minimum as he learns the trade and prepares to get certified as an automotive technician, leading to even higher wages.
Brian England, who owns BA Auto Care, supports the increased minimum wage and said he generally pays above it. Better wages are good both for his 48-year-old business, keeping it consistent and stable, and beyond, he said.
"When you raise the minimum wage, that gets spent in the community," England said. "It lifts everyone up. It's good for the economy."
England, who is a member of the national network, Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, said he understands other business owners may not feel the same sense of "social responsibility," which is "why you need laws." ...