District of Columbia Statewide Rule

DC Minimum Wage: $18.40 Hourly Floor for All Workers

Heavy RestrictionsApplies statewide across District of Columbia (2026)

Key Facts

Current wage: $18.40/hour (July 1, 2026)
Statute: DC Official Code § 32-1003
Tipped base wage: $10.30/hour base
Adjustment: Annual CPI increase each July 1
Enforcer: DOES Wage-Hour Compliance

Last verified: July 31, 2026

Summary

The District sets a citywide minimum wage of $18.40 per hour as of July 1, 2026, applying to all workers regardless of employer size. DC Official Code § 32-1003 fixed a $15.00 floor in 2020 and raises it every July 1 by the Washington-area CPI.

Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section and subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the minimum hourly wage shall be as of: ... (v) July 1, 2020: $15.00.... beginning on July 1, 2021, and no later than July 1 of each successive year, the minimum wage provided in this subsection shall be increased in proportion to the annual average increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers in the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for the previous calendar year. Any increase under this paragraph shall be adjusted to the nearest multiple of $.05.

View official code

Full Breakdown

DC Official Code § 32-1003(a) established a $15.00 hourly minimum wage on July 1, 2020, then indexed it to inflation: each July 1 the rate rises in proportion to the annual average increase in the Consumer Price Index for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, rounded to the nearest $.05. Under that formula the District's minimum wage reached $18.40 per hour on July 1, 2026, up from $17.95. The rate is uniform across all employers; bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees, outside salespeople, and newspaper-delivery workers are exempt under § 32-1004.

Violations & Penalties

Enforced by the DC Department of Employment Services, Office of Wage-Hour Compliance. Underpaid workers can recover back wages plus liquidated damages, and employers face civil penalties and administrative orders.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DC's minimum wage in 2026?

$18.40 per hour effective July 1, 2026, for all workers regardless of employer size, up from $17.95. It rises every July 1 with inflation.

Does DC have a tipped minimum wage?

Yes. The tipped base wage is $10.30 per hour as of July 1, 2026. If tips plus base don't reach $18.40, the employer pays the difference.

Sources

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