Arlington County has fallen in line with its neighbors, raising its living wage — the minimum salary paid to many contracted employees — to $13.13 an hour.
Fairfax County and Alexandria both provide a $13.13 living wage, nearly $6 more than the federal minimum wage. The new Arlington rate, up from $12.75 an hour, took effect July 1. Any contracts in place on that day, and those awarded after, will be subject to the revised rate.
Arlington’s living wage is to be paid, generally, to employees working on county-owned or controlled property under service contracts with an annual value of $100,000 or more.
But there are numerous exceptions, including contracts for professional services, construction, construction management, design-build, contracts for goods or contracts procured by emergency or sole-source.
According to Fairfax County’s budget documents, the $13.13 living wage there will cost the county $3.6 million in fiscal year 2013. It is unclear what the Arlington increase will cost the county.
Arlington’s living wage, created in 2003, was first set at $10.98. It is adjusted every one or two years. D.C.’s living wage is $12.50.
