District of Columbia Minimum Wage for 2023, 2024
Contents :: District of Columbia Minimum Wage
District of Columbia's state minimum wage rate is $17.00 per hour. This is greater than the Federal Minimum Wage of $7.25. You are entitled to be paid the higher state minimum wage. The minimum wage applies to most employees in District of Columbia, with limited exceptions including tipped employees, some student workers, and other exempt occupations.†
The District Of Columbia minimum wage was last changed in 2008, when it was raised $9.45 from $7.55 to $17.00.
The current minimum wage in The District of Columbia is $16.50 per hour. Effective July 1, 2023, the District’s Minimum Wage will increase to $17.00. The tipped wage is $5.35 per hour. If an employee’s hourly tip earnings (averaged weekly) added to the base minimum wage do not equal the District’s full minimum wage, the employer must pay the difference.
District of Columbia employers may not pay you under $17.00 per hour unless you or your occupation are specifically exempt from the minimum wage under state or federal law.
If you have questions about the District of Columbia minimum wage, please ask us and someone will respond to you as soon as possible. Looking for a new job? Use the free District of Columbia job search utility to find local job openings hiring now.
All District of Columbia employers must display an approved District of Columbia minimum wage poster in a prominent place to inform employees about the minimum wage and their worker's rights under District of Columbia labor law.
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District of Columbia Minimum Wage & Labor Law Posters
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and District of Columbia labor law requires all employers in District of Columbia to visibly display an approved District of Columbia minimum wage poster, and other District of Columbia and federal labor law posters, to ensure that all employees are aware of federal and District of Columbia labor law and overtime regulations. Failure to display a District of Columbia labor law poster in the workplace can result in severe fines.
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Instead of printing out pages of mandatory District of Columbia and Federal labor law posters, you can purchase a professional, laminated all-in-one labor law poster that guarantees compliance with all District of Columbia and federal posting requirements. Fully updated for October 2017!
Get All-In-One Poster NowThe District of Columbia minimum wage poster, and additional required District of Columbia labor law posters, are also available on the District of Columbia labor law posters download page.
District of Columbia Overtime Minimum Wage
All workers who put in over 40 weekly hours are entitled to a minimum wage of at least 1.5 times the regular applicable minimum wage (learn more about District of Columbia overtime pay). Some states require workers who work over a certain number of daily hours to be eligible for this overtime rate as well (District of Columbia law does specify a daily overtime limit).
The FLSA guarantees all DC employees adequate overtime compensation for all qualifying overtime hours worked. If your employer does not pay adequate overtime wages, you can file an unpaid overtime claim with the District of Columbia Department of Labor.
District of Columbia Minimum Wage Exemptions
In addition to any District of Columbia-specific minimum wage exemptions described above, the Federal Fair Labor Standards act defines special minimum wage rates applicable to certain types of workers. You may be paid under the District of Columbia minimum wage if you fit into one of the following categories:
- District of Columbia Under 20 Minimum Wage - $4.25 - Federal law allows any employer in District of Columbia to pay a new employee who is under 20 years of age a training wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment.
- District of Columbia Student Minimum Wage - $14.45 - Full-time high school or college students who work part-time may be paid 85% of the District of Columbia minimum wage (as little as $14.45 per hour) for up to 20 hours of work per week at certain employers (such as work-study programs at universities).
- District of Columbia Tipped Minimum Wage - See Here - Employees who earn a certain amount of tips every month may be paid a lower cash minimum wage, but must earn at least $17.00 including tips every hour. For more details, read about the District of Columbia tipped minimum wage.
Local Minimum Wage Rates in District of Columbia
While District of Columbia's state minimum wage is $17.00 per hour, there are localities that have set their own, higher minimum wages that apply to some or all employees within their jurisdictions. The following is a table of all District of Columbia localities with established minimum wage laws.
| Locality | Applies To | Minimum Wage | Comparison to State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | All employees | $15.20 | -$1.80 |
Frequently Asked Questions - District of Columbia Minimum Wage & Labor Law
- What is the District of Columbia minimum wage?
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The current District of Columbia minimum wage of $17.00 per hour is the lowest amount a non-exempt employee in District of Columbia can legally be paid for hourly work. Special minimum wage rates, such as the "District of Columbia waitress minimum wage" for tipped employees, may apply to certain workers.[1]
- How much will I earn working a minimum wage jobin District of Columbia?
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A full time minimum wage worker in District of Columbia working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, will earn $136.00 per day, $680.00 per week, and $35,360.00 per year1. The national poverty line for a family unit consisting of two people is $16,020.00 per year.
- What is the District of Columbia under 18 minimum wage?
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District of Columbia employers may pay 18 year olds and minors the youth minimum wage of $4.25 for the first 90 days of employment. Other labor law exemptions for minors in District of Columbia may exist.
- I still can't find the answer to my question about the District of Columbia minimum wage!
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If you have read the FAQ and still cannot find the information you need, please contact us with your question.
1 These earnings estimates do not account for the District of Columbia income tax , federal income tax, or local/municipal income taxes.
2 Poverty line for a family of two in the lower 48 published 2016 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Labor Law Footnotes, Sources & Citations:
- The weekly earnings estimate of $680.00 is based on a standard 40-hour workweek
- The yearly earnings estimate of $35,360.00 is based on 52 standard 40-hour work weeks. Since most hourly employees don't work full time and/or take time off, actual yearly earnings will likely be lower.