District of Columbia Minimum Wage 2026

District of Columbia minimum wage is $18.40 an hour in 2026 (tipped cash wage $10.30). See what it costs your team and whether you are paying under it.

Last update

October 19, 2026

District of Columbia's 2026 minimum wage is $18.40 an hour, with a tipped cash wage of $10.30 and a maximum tip credit of $8.10, and the employer owes the difference in any workweek where tips fall short. The rate is indexed to inflation and adjusts every Jul 1, so the figure here is good until the next adjustment is announced. Use the calculator to see the annual cost at the District of Columbia minimum for your headcount and the back-pay exposure if you are paying under it. Hours over 40 are covered by the overtime calculator, the termination side by the District of Columbia final paycheck rule, and the full table is on the minimum wage by state calculator. Nearby: Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.

District of Columbia minimum wage calculator (2026)

Enter your schedule and rate to see what the District of Columbia minimum costs and whether you are under it.

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Rate changes land on January 1 and July 1. Payroll should already know.

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District of Columbia rate as of October 2026 from the US Department of Labor state tables. Local rates, where they exist, are higher and take precedence for work performed inside the boundary. Tipped cash wage is the minimum the employer pays directly; tips must bring the employee to the full minimum every workweek. Estimates only.