The new rates for large and mid-sized businesses are based on the change in the consumer price index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers in the Washington, D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria area for the previous year, which was 2.8 percent. The County wage law, sponsored by then County Councilmember (and now County Executive) Marc Elrich, increased the minimum wage to $15 in phases for different-sized businesses and then indexed it to inflation after it reached $15.
“I sponsored this legislation in 2017 because I firmly believe that increasing the minimum wage for low-wage workers is one of the most important actions we can take as a government,” said County Executive Elrich. “Ensuring that individuals and families can afford rent, food, health care and transportation is essential. No one working full-time should struggle to put a roof over their head or food on their table. We also indexed the minimum wage for inflation so that it would not lose its value. If this had been done with the federal minimum wage, we likely would not have had to enact legislation at the local level. This extra income can make a meaningful difference for many families, helping them to better meet their needs and improve their quality of life.”
More information about the County’s minimum wage is available on the County’s website.
