District of Columbia Minimum Wage 2026: $18.40/hr
District of Columbia workers must be paid at least $18.40 an hour, $11.15 above the federal $7.25 minimum.
Data updated
Key facts for District of Columbia
- Minimum wage
- $18.40/hr
- In effect since
- Tipped cash wage
- $10.30/hr
- Compared with federal
- +$11.15 vs the federal $7.25
- Overtime
- 1.5x after 40 hrs/week
Source
- Rule
- District of Columbia minimum wage law
- Published by
- does.dc.gov
- Last updated
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Hourly rate and hours in, weekly pay with District of Columbia overtime rules out.
Calculate my District of Columbia overtimeThe short answer
District of Columbia's minimum wage is $18.40/hr in 2026, $11.15 above the federal $7.25 minimum , ranked #1 of 51 US jurisdictions. The tipped cash wage is $10.30/hr.
How the District of Columbia minimum wage works
In District of Columbia, the minimum wage is $18.40 per hour, effective July 1, 2026. District of Columbia sets its own minimum wage, and a tip credit is allowed: the tipped cash wage is $10.30 per hour, with tips expected to bring total pay to at least the full minimum wage. Overtime is paid at 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. This reflects a state overtime law.
DC rose from $17.95/hr to $18.40/hr on July 1, 2026 under its CPI-indexed annual adjustment. The tipped minimum cash wage rose from $10.00 to $10.30/hr on the same date. DC adjusts every July 1; the 2027 rate has not been announced yet.
How District of Columbia compares
- State rate
- $18.40/hr
- Federal minimum
- $7.25/hr
- Difference
- +$11.15 (+153.8%)
- National rank
- #1 of 51
Ranked by 2026 effective minimum wage across all 51 U.S. states and jurisdictions. Federal comparison source: U.S. Department of Labor.
District of Columbia overtime rules
- Weekly overtime threshold
- 40 hours (1.5x)
- Governing law
- State overtime law
DC requires overtime at 1.5x for hours over 40 in a workweek unless the worker fits a specific exemption. No daily overtime.