DC's Minimum Wage Increased July 1

In 2016, the DC Council adopted the Fair Shot Minimum Wage Amendment Act that will gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in the District of Columbia by 2020. In addition, tipped workers are slated to make $5 an hour by that date.

As part of implementing the law, the minimum wage increased to $14 per hour as of July 1, 2019. In addition, tipped workers' minimum wage rose to $4.45 per hour.

Wages are also going up in neighboring jurisdictions. Nearby, Maryland’s statewide minimum wage is $10.10 per hour, effective July 1, 2019, with a higher minimum wage in Montgomery County, where it is $13 ($12.50 for employers with 50 or fewer employees), effective July 1, 2019, and in Prince George’s County, where it is currently $11.50. Virginia follows the Federal Minimum Wage which is $7.25 per hour.

Nonprofit employers of minimum-wage workers should consider the scheduled wage increases as they plan budgets and submit grant proposals for upcoming years. The DC minimum wage requirement applies to any employee who works at least 50 percent of the time in DC, regardless of where the worker resides.