District of Columbia minimum wage and worker rights for immigrants

District of Columbia minimum wage and worker rights

District of Columbia at a glance

District of Columbia is home to about 89,578 foreign-born residents (13.3% of the state’s 672,079 people) and 77,760 residents of Hispanic or Latino origin (11.6%), per the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimates). The procedures below apply to everyone in District of Columbia regardless of immigration status unless noted.

Minimum wage in District of Columbia (official DOL data)

Official source: Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws

DOL updated: January 1, 2026 · Verified on: 2026-05-25

Minimum wage in District of Columbia

• Basic minimum rate: $17.95/hour
• Detail: $17.95

Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour (unchanged since 2009). Applies to FLSA-covered employers when state wage is lower or non-existent.

2025 minimum wage

District of Columbia: $17.00

Basic worker rights (regardless of immigration status)

Under federal law (FLSA) and District of Columbia labor laws:

• ✅ Minimum wage guaranteed
• ✅ Overtime pay (1.5× over 40 hours/week)
• ✅ Pay for all hours worked
• ✅ Safe work environment (OSHA)
• ✅ Protection against retaliation for reporting violations
• ✅ Worker’s compensation access if injured at work (depends on state)

Important: These rights apply to ALL workers in the US, including undocumented persons. Immigration status does NOT remove these rights.

Where to report labor abuses in District of Columbia

Department of Labor (DOL) — federal

• Wage and Hour Division (WHD): dol.gov/agencies/whd
• Phone: 1-866-487-9243 (interpreters in many languages)
• Does NOT require immigration status verification
• Can report anonymously

District of Columbia Department of Labor

Search “District of Columbia Department of Labor” or “Labor Commissioner”.

OSHA (occupational safety)

• Federal OSHA: osha.gov/complaint
• Report unsafe environments, unreported accidents, lack of protective equipment

Worker’s Compensation in District of Columbia

If injured at work in District of Columbia, you have worker’s compensation rights regardless of immigration status. Covers: medical expenses, lost wage pay, permanent disability (if applicable).

Important: Worker’s comp does NOT affect your immigration status. It’s illegal for employer to fire you for filing worker’s comp claim.

ITIN for work

If you earn income in District of Columbia and need to file taxes but don’t have SSN, use ITIN.

Related information

• Filing taxes with ITIN
• District of Columbia state income tax
• DMV in District of Columbia

Last verified: 2026-05-25.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.

Related procedural information

• USCIS Form I-765 — Employment Authorization (EAD) — required for non-citizen work
• Form I-9 — Employment Eligibility Verification — what your employer must verify
• Workplace rights regardless of immigration status — wage theft, OSHA, anti-retaliation
• ITIN for tax filing without SSN — required if working under ITIN
• Find an immigration attorney — for wage-and-hour or employment discrimination cases