D.C. Minimum Wage in 2027: $18.40 an Hour, Tipped Base $10.30
Short answer: The District of Columbia's minimum wage is $18.40 an hour, in effect since July 1, 2026, and it applies to all workers regardless of employer size. The tipped base wage is $10.30. D.C. adjusts every July 1, so the number on January 1, 2027 is still $18.40.
What the District says
The D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES) says that beginning July 1, 2026 the minimum wage increases from $17.95 to $18.40 for all workers regardless of employer size, and that the District's minimum wage and living wage are now the same $18.40. That makes the District's rate the highest basic rate on the U.S. Department of Labor's November 5, 2026 state table, ahead of Washington's current $17.13 and its own scheduled $17.73 for 2027. (Local rates such as Seattle's $22.14 are higher, but they are city rates, not state rates.)
Tipped employees
DOES says the base minimum wage for tipped employees rose to $10.30 an hour on July 1, 2026, and that if the employee's hourly tip earnings, averaged weekly, plus that base do not equal the full minimum wage, the employer must pay the difference. The effective tip credit is therefore up to $8.10 an hour ($18.40 − $10.30), and the guaranteed floor is still $18.40. D.C. has been phasing in changes under a "Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Amendment Act"; the DOES page links to details of that law, so check it if you are an employer setting up payroll.
Pay math at $18.40
A full-time worker earns $38,272 a year before taxes at 2,080 hours. A worker paid $18.40 who gets 5 hours of weekly overtime earns $138 a week of overtime pay, $46 of which is the half-time FLSA premium the federal deduction can reach. DOL lists weekly-40 overtime in D.C. with no separate daily rule. Try the overtime calculator.
What to watch in 2027
The District adjusts by formula each July 1. We did not find a published July 2027 rate, and we won't guess one. A new figure should appear on the DOES wage-hour page in spring or early summer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the D.C. minimum wage in 2027?
From July 1, 2026 the District's minimum wage is $18.40 per hour for all workers regardless of employer size, up from $17.95. It stays $18.40 until the next July 1 adjustment, so it is $18.40 on January 1, 2027.
When does D.C. adjust its minimum wage next?
The U.S. Department of Labor says the D.C. minimum wage is adjusted annually on July 1 based on a set formula. The July 1, 2027 figure had not been published when we checked.
What is the D.C. tipped minimum wage?
As of July 1, 2026 the base minimum wage for tipped employees is $10.30 per hour. If hourly tip earnings (averaged weekly) added to the base wage do not equal the full $18.40 minimum, the employer must pay the difference.
What is the D.C. Living Wage?
The Department of Employment Services says the living wage was $17.95 from January 1 to June 30, 2026 and, as of July 1, 2026, the District's minimum wage and living wage are both $18.40.
Is D.C. overtime the same as federal law?
The U.S. Department of Labor's table lists weekly overtime after 40 hours for D.C., the same as the federal rule.
Sources and citations
Every dollar figure on this page was checked against the official pages below on November 14, 2026. If an agency updates its guidance, the agency page controls.