District of Columbia Minimum Wage
The District of Columbia's minimum wage is $18.40 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's State Minimum Wage Laws table, updated November 5, 2026.
- Rate in effect
- $18.40
- Federal minimum
- $7.25
- Full-time year
- $38,272
- State rank
- 1st of 51
Local ordinances and sector rates can be higher where state law allows them, and are not shown here. To confirm a local or sector rate, use the state agency listed on the Department of Labor's State Labor Offices page.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05. Checked against NCSL state minimum wage table (as of 2026-07-01); EPI 2026 table where listed. A full-time year is 2,080 hours, the convention BLS uses. Confirm the rate in the Department of Labor table. Table read November 10, 2026; rechecked on the January 1 and July 1 statutory change dates, next on January 1, 2027. Scheduled rates are shown where the Department of Labor or the state's own agency publishes one we could read; a state showing none may still have one, so check its labor office.
How does the District of Columbia's minimum wage compare with the federal rate?
The rate in the District of Columbia is $11.15 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
What is the tipped minimum wage in the District of Columbia?
Employers in the District of Columbia can pay tipped workers a cash wage of $10.30 an hour and count a tip credit of up to $8.10 toward the $18.40 combined rate.
The Department of Labor adds: Employers must currently pay a minimum cash wage of at least 56% of the standard minimum wage and may claim the remaining difference in tip credit.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, updated November 5, 2026.
How does the minimum compare with pay in the District of Columbia?
The lowest-paid tenth of jobs in the District of Columbia paid $19.06 an hour or less in May 2025, so the current minimum equals 97% of that line and 42% of the state's median hourly pay of $44.01.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, all occupations, hourly; minimum wage as listed on November 5, 2026. The wage figures are from May 2025, so a rate raised since then can sit above them. Confirm the wage figures in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.
Which occupations in the District of Columbia pay closest to the minimum?
Home health and personal care aides have the 10th-percentile wage closest to $18.40, at $18.41 an hour, among occupations with at least 100 jobs.
| Occupation | 10th percentile | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $18.41 | $20.53 | 12,810 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $18.34 | $23.44 | 150 |
| Pharmacy Aides | $18.47 | $28.83 | 120 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $18.49 | $59.51 | 590 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $18.53 | $22.62 | 1,170 |
| Recreation Workers | $18.26 | $22.34 | 470 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $18.54 | $38.93 | 1,900 |
| Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $18.25 | $20.32 | 3,800 |
| Dietetic Technicians | $18.55 | $19.62 | 190 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $18.24 | $21.74 | 120 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, hourly wages. Confirm in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.