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District of Columbia · OFFICIAL SOURCES & THRESHOLDS

District of Columbia
Minimum wage.

Check official requirements, employee thresholds, effective dates, and employer responsibilities for minimum wage.

Notice: General informational guidance, not legal advice. Read the full legal disclaimer. Federal, state, and municipal regulations operate concurrently.
Minimum wage · United StatesChanged recently

United States minimum wage

$7.25 per hour

The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in United States · All industries
Effective
Jul 24, 2009
Official source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.
Minimum wage · District of ColumbiaChanged recently

District of Columbia minimum wage

$18.40 per hour

The District of Columbia minimum wage is $18.40 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table effective July 1, 2026.

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in District of Columbia · All industries
Effective
Jul 1, 2026
Official source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.

Thresholds, dates & upcoming changes

Jurisdiction / rule Requirement Employees / industry Effective / status Official source / last checked
United States
United States minimum wage 		$7.25 per hour 0–any employees
All industries 		Jul 24, 2009
Current 		U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act
Checked Nov 1, 2026
District of Columbia
District of Columbia minimum wage 		$18.40 per hour 0–any employees
All industries 		Jul 1, 2026
Current 		U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table
Checked Nov 1, 2026
THE DATED RECORD

What changed in District of Columbia?

United States · Minimum wage

Rule name changed from not previously published to United States minimum wage. Summary changed from not previously published to The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).. Requirement changed from not previously published to $7.25 per hour. Numeric amount changed from not previously published to 7.25. Minimum employer size changed from not previously published to 0 employees. Effective date changed from not previously published to Jul 24, 2009. Publication status changed from not previously published to active. Industry coverage changed from not previously published to not published.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act · Effective Jul 24, 2009 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026

District of Columbia · Minimum wage

Rule name changed from not previously published to District of Columbia minimum wage. Summary changed from not previously published to The District of Columbia minimum wage is $18.40 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table effective July 1, 2026.. Requirement changed from not previously published to $18.40 per hour. Numeric amount changed from not previously published to 18.4. Effective date changed from not previously published to Jul 1, 2026. Publication status changed from not previously published to active. Minimum employer size changed from not previously published to 0 employees. Industry coverage changed from not previously published to not published.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table · Effective Jul 1, 2026 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026 · View current requirement →
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions employers ask about Minimum wage in District of Columbia

What is the United States minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$7.25 per hour. The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).

When did United States minimum wage take effect?

Effective July 24, 2009. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow United States minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in United States across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating United States minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

What is the District of Columbia minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$18.40 per hour. The District of Columbia minimum wage is $18.40 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table effective July 1, 2026.

When did District of Columbia minimum wage take effect?

Effective July 1, 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow District of Columbia minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in District of Columbia across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating District of Columbia minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

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