District of Columbia Minimum Wage Law

Effective January 1, 2006, the minimum wage for the District of Columbia is $7.00 per hour. Before January 1, 2006, the District of Columbia's minimum wage rate was $6.60 per hour. The minimum wage rate for 2004 was $6.15 per hour. If a higher wage is established by a wage order, the higher rate prevails.

The District's minimum wage law applies to all employers, except the United States or the District of Columbia. In addition, the following are excluded from the definition of employee:

1. volunteers working in an educational, charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization,
2. lay members elected or appointed to an office within any religious organization, and
3. individuals employed in domestic service or otherwise employed in or about the employer's residence. Further, the following are exempt from the District's minimum wage and overtime laws: employees employed in a bona fide executive, administrative or professional capacity; outside salespersons; and persons delivering newspapers to the homes of customers.

The rate for laundry and dry cleaning employees is $5.45 per hour and $4.95 per hour if an employer provides health benefits.