HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Meritus Health, Washington County’s only integrated health system and one of the region’s largest employers, took the next step in its charge to increase its minimum wage to $20.

As of today, all team members are earning at least $18 per hour. The increase affects roughly 150 people and will be reflected on the Jan. 24 paycheck. The raise keeps Meritus at the forefront in the region and state for healthcare pay rates.

“Every position at Meritus Health helps us achieve our mission of improving the health of the community,” said President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H. “Having a livable wage provides stability in the lives of our team members and allows them to provide our patients with the best care possible.”

The first phase of the increases began this summer, impacting 500 frontline team members, including Medical Assistants, Certified Nursing Assistants, Phlebotomists and Emergency Department Technicians. By January 2027, all positions will have moved to the increased pay scale of $20/hour. As part of the investment in its workforce, Meritus is also providing a performance-based bonus structure and incentives to long-standing team members as they achieve years of service milestones.

Joshi emphasized the health system’s goal to encourage local community members to begin a career with the health system versus a temporary job. Meritus offers employees opportunities for tuition reimbursement and educational opportunities.

Joshi said many can enter the health system in a minimum wage, entry-level role, take advantage of educational benefits and earn advanced degrees and achieve higher-level career milestones and goals.

The current rate increase is the third time in recent years that the health system has increased its base pay.

In 2021, Meritus increased its minimum wage to $15 an hour, four years ahead of state-mandated increases. That hike impacted 1,100 employees at an investment of $2.8 million. In 2023, the health system invested an additional $3 million to increase minimum wage to $17.

Joshi said many factors influenced the decision, including turnover rates, cost of living and the desire for Meritus to be a nationally ranked employer.

“In our community, we are competing with other industries for workers,” Joshi said. “But unlike other industries, we simply cannot operate safely and serve our community with vacancies. We must be competitive and attract talented, dedicated individuals to our workforce.”

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Meritus Health, Western Maryland’s largest health care provider, is located at the crossroads of Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The mission of Meritus Health is to improve the health of the region by providing the best healthcare, health services and medical education. As an anchor organization for the community, Meritus has nearly 4,000 employees and serves more than 200,000 residents of the tristate region through Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, Meritus Medical Group, Meritus Home Health, Meritus Equipped for Life, and the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. More information can be found at www.MeritusHealth.com or visit our Facebook page or LinkedIn page.