District of Columbia minimum wage
Minimum wage in District of Columbia, in effect since July 1, 2026
$18.40 an hour
That is $11.15 above the federal minimum of $7.25. Employers in District of Columbia pay the higher state rate.
Next increase: none announced as of October 9, 2026. Adjusted every July 1 by the change in the CPI-U for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area (D.C. Code § 32-1003).
Tipped employees
Employers in District of Columbia can pay tipped employees a cash wage of $10.30 an hour, taking a tip credit of up to $8.10, as long as tips bring the employee to at least $18.40 for every hour worked. If they don't, the employer makes up the difference.
How future increases are set
Adjusted every July 1 by the change in the CPI-U for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area (D.C. Code § 32-1003).
Exceptions and details
- The rate applies to all workers regardless of employer size.
- If a tipped employee's tips (averaged weekly) plus the $10.30 base wage do not reach the full minimum wage, the employer must pay the difference.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in District of Columbia?
- $18.40 an hour, in effect since July 1, 2026.
- What is the tipped minimum wage in District of Columbia?
- $10.30 an hour in cash wages, provided tips bring the employee up to $18.40 an hour.
- When does the District of Columbia minimum wage go up?
- No increase had been announced as of October 9, 2026.
Running payroll in District of Columbia?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- District of Columbia Department of Employment Services, Office of Wage-Hour · data as of July 1, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.