Hourly PayWhat $18.40 an hour comes to
| Working time | Pay before tax |
|---|---|
| 8-hour day | $147.20 |
| 40-hour week | $736.00 |
| Month (one twelfth of a year) | $3,189.33 |
| Year (2,080 hours) | $38,272.00 |
Plain multiplication for a full-time worker paid for every hour, before tax and deductions. It is not a statement of what any employer pays.
How it compares
At $18.40, the state rate is 154% above the federal minimum of $7.25. Over a 2,080-hour year that difference is $23,192 before tax. 34 of the 50 states and territories with a rate in the table are above the federal minimum; District of Columbia is number 1 from the top. The median hourly wage of all employees in District of Columbia was $44.01 in May 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics): half earned more, half less. The $18.40 minimum is 42% of that median.
What the Department of Labor's table says about District of Columbia
- Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $18.40
- Premium Pay After Designated Hours: Weekly - 40
- The minimum wage is adjusted annually on July 1 based on a set formula.
Quoted from the Department's page as updated on 5 November 2026. The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
Before you rely on a rate
- Cities and counties in some states set their own, higher minimum wage. This page shows the state entry only.
- Workers who receive tips, young workers, trainees and some small employers can come under different rates or exemptions.
- Where a state rate and the federal rate both apply, the worker is entitled to the higher one.
- Rates are usually changed on 1 January or 1 July. Check the date at the top of this page.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in District of Columbia?
$18.40 an hour, as listed by the U.S. Department of Labor on 5 November 2026.
How much is District of Columbia minimum wage for a full-time year?
$18.40 an hour for 2,080 hours comes to $38,272 before tax.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, "State Minimum Wage Laws", page updated 5 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Rates change, often on 1 January or 1 July, and some cities and counties set higher rates of their own. This is general information, not legal advice: confirm the rate that applies to you with your state labour office or at dol.gov.