Duke Raises Minimum Wage to $20 Per Hour

With additional tenure-based wage increases for long-serving employees

Duke Chapel from the air.
Photo courtesy of Duke University Marketing & Communications.

Duke will raise the minimum wage for eligible employees to $20 per hour effective July 1, 2026.

The new rate will be among the highest minimum wages offered by regional universities and health systems in North Carolina. Combined with a market-leading employee benefits program, this move continues to position Duke as an employer of choice in the region. 

“Our commitment to community begins with our employees, the majority of whom call Durham home,” said Duke University President Vincent Price. “This investment in our people, along with Duke’s robust benefits package, contributes to long and meaningful careers at Duke and fosters economic stability for countless families in our community.”

More than 4,000 local employees of Duke University and Duke University Health System will see their pay increase as a direct result of this change. In addition, approximately 9,000 employees with greater tenure, whose wages are currently near the new minimum, will receive an additional wage adjustment in recognition of their experience and years of service to the institution.

“With this adjustment, the Duke minimum wage will have increased by more than 50 percent in the last decade,” said Antwan Lofton, Vice President for Duke Human Resources. “It reflects our continued commitment to supporting frontline staff who enable this institution to deliver exceptional patient care, education, and research.”

Duke’s minimum wage increased from $12 per hour in 2015 to $18 per hour in 2024.

The new minimum pay rate will apply to all regular employees at Duke. Positions covered under collective bargaining agreements are eligible for the increase, subject to agreement of the respective unions.

“This investment is about more than compensation — it’s about recognizing what our team members bring to our patients, their families, and each other every day,” said Thomas Owens, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Duke University Health System. “Our Total Rewards program reflects that same commitment: supporting them not just in their work, but in their lives and throughout their careers.”

The $20 minimum wage will also extend to contractors who employ individuals working full-time on Duke’s campus. Contractors will be expected to meet the new Duke minimum wage by July 1, 2026.

Duke will continue to evaluate additional investments in its workforce and will share further details with team members in the coming weeks.

Duke is the second-largest private employer in North Carolina, with a majority of employees living in Durham and Wake counties. Additional details regarding implementation timelines and eligibility will be shared with employees in the coming weeks.