At a glance
- Minimum wage: $18.40 an hour.
- Tipped cash wage: $10.30.
- Overtime: after 40 hours in a workweek.
- Final paycheck if fired: by the next business day.
- Paid sick leave: Yes. Paid family leave program: Yes.
What District of Columbia employers need to know
Washington, DC has the highest minimum wage of any US jurisdiction in this library at $18.40 an hour, adjusted every July 1. Its tipped cash wage is $10.30 an hour, set under Initiative 82 as later amended by the DC Council. Paid sick leave covers every employer, the paid family leave program is funded by employers alone, and pay ranges must appear in every job posting. For employers headquartered in Maryland or Virginia with DC staff, DC rules usually set the bar.
District of Columbia minimum wage
| Minimum wage | $18.40 |
|---|---|
| Tipped cash wage | $10.30 |
| Next change | Inflation adjustment (rate announced in spring) on July 1, 2027 |
Pay the highest rate that applies where the employee works: federal, state, or local. For comparison, neighboring states pay Maryland ($15.00), Virginia ($12.77). See every state side by side in our minimum wage by state table, and convert between hourly and annual pay with the salary to hourly calculator.
District of Columbia overtime rules
The federal FLSA rule applies: overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. There is no daily overtime rule.
Exempt salary test: the federal minimum of $684 a week ($35,568 a year) applies. Duties tests apply too, so job titles alone don't make someone exempt.
Work out overtime owed with our overtime calculator, compare states in overtime laws by state, and check classification with our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees.
District of Columbia meal and rest break laws
Meal breaks: No state meal break law for adult employees. Federal law doesn't require meal breaks either, but if you give one of 30 minutes or more and the employee is fully relieved of duty, it can be unpaid.
Rest breaks: No state rest break law for adults. Under federal law, short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid.
Many states have stricter break rules for minors. Compare adult rules nationwide in break laws by state, and total up shifts with the time card calculator.
District of Columbia final paycheck law
| If you fire or lay off the employee | By the next business day. |
|---|---|
| If the employee quits | By the next regular payday or within 7 days, whichever comes first. |
| Unused vacation or PTO | Not required by state law. Follow your written policy or contract, and apply it consistently. |
Build the deadline into your offboarding checklist. Our offboarding guide covers the full process, the PTO payout calculator works out the amount, and the final paycheck laws by state table compares every state.
District of Columbia paid sick leave and family leave
Paid sick leave: Paid sick and safe leave for employers of every size: from 1 hour per 87 hours (up to 3 days) for employers with fewer than 25 employees, to 1 hour per 37 hours (up to 7 days) for employers with 100 or more.
Paid family and medical leave: DC Paid Family Leave: up to 12 weeks of parental leave and other leave types, funded entirely by an employer payroll tax.
Federal FMLA: employers with 50 or more employees within 75 miles must also give eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Read our FMLA guide, and compare states in paid leave laws by state.
Hiring, pay transparency, and payroll setup
Pay transparency: Required for employers of every size: a pay range in every posting, plus a disclosure of health care benefits before the first interview.
New hire reporting: Report each new hire within 20 days of the hire date, the federal deadline.
State income tax withholding: Yes. Register with the state tax agency before the first payroll.
Our pay transparency laws guide explains posting rules in more depth, and our job description templates include pay data for 50 common roles.
What trips up District of Columbia employers
- The minimum wage changes on July 1, not January 1, so payroll updates fall mid-year.
- The paid family leave tax is paid by the employer only. Don't deduct it from wages.
- Job postings must include pay ranges, and you can't ask candidates for their pay history.
Sources and the agency to contact
- DC Department of Employment Services (state labor agency)
- US Department of Labor: state minimum wage laws
- US Department of Labor: minimum wages for tipped employees by state
- US Department of Labor: state meal period requirements
General information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and have exceptions by industry, employer size, and city. Confirm current rules with the state agency or employment counsel before you rely on them.
Cite or share this data
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<a href="https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/district-of-columbia/">District of Columbia labor laws for employers (2026)</a> (source: HRTally)
Suggested citation: HRTally Research Team. "District of Columbia labor laws for employers (2026)." HRTally, updated October 20, 2026. https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/district-of-columbia/
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in District of Columbia in 2026?
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Are breaks required in District of Columbia?
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Written by the HRTally Research Team
Our guides are written and reviewed by people with hands-on US HR, payroll, and HR technology experience. Legal and tax facts are checked against primary sources, such as the Department of Labor, IRS, EEOC, and USCIS, and linked at the end of each guide. Vendors never review or pay for our editorial content.