District of Columbia Minimum Wage 2026: $17.95/hr
Last updated: 2026-06-02 — Source: District of Columbia Department of Labor
In District of Columbia, the minimum wage is $17.95 per hour, effective 2026-01-01. District of Columbia sets its own minimum wage, and a tip credit is allowed: the tipped cash wage is $10.00 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.
Quick answer
District of Columbia's minimum wage is $17.95/hr in 2026 — $10.70 above the federal $7.25 minimum , ranked #1 of 51 US jurisdictions. The tipped cash wage is $10.00/hr. It is scheduled to rise to $18.40/hr on 2026-07-01.
District of Columbia's minimum wage is scheduled to rise to $18.40/hr effective 2026-07-01.
Minimum Wage
$17.95
per hour
Tipped Wage
$10.00
per hour (cash wage)
Effective Date
2026-01-01
How District of Columbia compares
State vs Federal
+$10.70
vs the federal $7.25 minimum (+147.6%)
State Rate
$17.95
per hour
National Rank
#1
of 51 jurisdictions
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
DC requires overtime at 1.5x for hours over 40 per week. DC Wage Theft Prevention Act may provide additional protections.
Additional Information
DC: $17.95/hr from Jan 1, 2026; increases to $18.40/hr on July 1, 2026 (CPI-indexed annual adjustment). DC has the highest minimum wage in the nation. Tipped minimum cash wage is $10.00/hr.