The Brief
- D.C.’s minimum wage for non-tipped workers will rise to $17.95/hour starting July 1, 2025, applying to all employers regardless of size.
- A planned increase in the tipped minimum wage from $10 to $12/hour has been paused by the D.C. Council, despite strong voter support for Initiative 82.
- Supporters say the pause protects small restaurants, while critics argue it overrides the will of voters and harms tipped workers.
WASHINGTON – Two new laws regarding the minimum wage were set to go into effect in the District on July 1, 2025 – but one has been put on hold.
Minimum wage increase for non-tipped workers in DC
The minimum wage in D.C. for non-tipped workers is on the rise. The increase will go from $17.50 an hour up to $17.95 an hour, effective starting July 1, 2025.
This will be for all non-tipped employees, regardless of the size of the employer.
Minimum wage increase for tipped workers paused
The base minimum wage for tipped employees was supposed to see a bit larger of an increase, up to $12 an hour from the previous $10 an hour, effective July 1, 2025.
But last month, D.C. Council voted to pause the $2 increase for tipped workers. The increase was part of Initiative 82, passed in 2022 with nearly 75% of voters supporting it.…