On June 30, 2025, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser suspended the scheduled tipped wage increase set to take effect on July 1, 2025. The hourly minimum wage for non-tipped employees still increased to $17.95 per hour.
Employers in the District of Columbia are required to display both the “District of Columbia Minimum Wage Poster” and the “Employee Rights in the District of Columbia” notice. These posters have recently been updated to show the correct tipped wage.
Minimum Wage & Tipped Wage Updates in DC
Regular Minimum Wage Increase
- Effective July 1, 2025, the minimum wage in DC for non-tipped employees increased from $17.50 to $17.95 per hour.
- This applies to all non-tipped workers, regardless of the size of their employer.
Tipped Wage Adjustments
- Under Initiative 82, DC voters approved phasing out the tipped wage system
- The scheduled increase in the base wage for tipped workers, from $10.00 to $12.00, set for July 1, 2025, has been suspended.
- The tipped minimum wage remains at $10.00 per hour.
Who Must Display the Wage Notices
All employers in the District of Columbia are required to display both the “District of Columbia Minimum Wage Poster” and the “Employee Rights in the District of Columbia” notice.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failing to display the required wage posters in the District of Columbia can result in civil penalties of $500 for each violation. Furthermore, businesses may face costly litigation from employees and damage to their reputation. Displaying the updated wage posters informs employees of their wage rights under DC law. Posting wage information fosters a fair workplace culture, showing employees that you value compliance and transparency.
Action Steps for Employers
- Replace Outdated Posters
- Ensure that any previous versions of the minimum wage posters are removed and replaced with the newest versions.
- Display the New Minimum Wage Posters Prominently
- Post the updated notices in a location where all employees can easily read them.
- Get Payroll Ready
- Ensure Payroll is informed of the paused increase for tipped employees and that the proper rate is in place.
- Stay Informed
- Subscribe to a trusted Labor Law Poster Replacement Service to ensure ongoing compliance with DC and federal regulations.
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How 
Can Help You
Managing ongoing poster updates and labor law changes can be overwhelming. We provide trusted compliance solutions that include:
- Accurate and Up-to-Date Posters: Our District of Columbia Labor Law Poster includes both the “District of Columbia Minimum Wage Poster” and “Employee Rights in the District of Columbia” notices,as well as all DC and federal-mandated labor law posters.
- Automatic Poster Updates: Staying compliant is easy and worry-free with our automatic labor law poster replacement service, which ensures that your business always has the latest posters without requiring you to keep track of updates.
- Physical and Remote Work Compliance: Quality laminated posters and digital resources to support both in-person and remote workforces.
- Customized Compliance Solutions: Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, we provide tailored solutions to meet your compliance needs.
Labor Law Center, an OutSolve Company, is committed to being your partner in workplace labor law compliance. Contact us today to discover why thousands of businesses, of all sizes, place their trust in our labor law compliance solutions.
