Washington Minimum Wage 2026: $17.13 Statewide, Up to $21.65 Locally
Washington state minimum wage is $17.13 per hour in 2026, the highest statewide rate in the US, with no tip credit, a 2027 CPI adjustment announced September 30, and city rates in Seattle, Tukwila, Renton, SeaTac, Burien, Everett, Bellingham and King County above $19.
The Washington state minimum wage is $17.13 per hour for 2026, effective January 1, 2026, up from $16.66 in 2025. It is the highest statewide minimum wage in the country and $9.88 above the federal $7.25. Washington does not allow a tip credit, adjusts the rate every January 1 for inflation, and lets cities set higher rates: Tukwila ($21.65), Seattle ($21.30), Renton, Burien, SeaTac, Everett, King County and Bellingham all exceed the state figure in 2026. The 2027 state rate will be announced by the Department of Labor and Industries on September 30, 2026. See how Washington compares in our minimum wage by state guide.
Current Washington Minimum Wage
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries sets the 2026 minimum wage at $17.13 per hour for workers aged 16 and older. Employers may pay 14- and 15-year-olds 85 percent of the minimum wage, which is $14.56 in 2026. The rate applies to all employers regardless of size and to all hours worked, including travel time between job sites, on-call time when the worker must stay on premises, and training.
Washington's rate is set by Initiative 1433, passed by voters in 2016, which raised the minimum in fixed steps to $13.50 in 2020 and then tied it to inflation. Each year L&I compares the August-to-August change in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) and publishes the new rate by September 30 for the following January 1.
Washington Minimum Wage vs Federal Minimum Wage
| Rate | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25 | Since 2009 |
| Washington state minimum wage | $17.13 | From January 1, 2026 |
| Youth rate (ages 14 and 15) | $14.56 | 85 percent of the state rate |
| Highest local rate | $21.65 | Tukwila, from January 1, 2026 |
Washington has led the states since 2020, though Washington DC's $18.40 is higher. Neighboring Oregon pays $15.55 (standard rate) and Idaho $7.25, so employers with staff across the Columbia River or the Idaho border run three different floors.
Tipped Minimum Wage in Washington
Washington does not allow a tip credit. L&I states that "businesses may not use tips and service charges paid to an employee as part of an employee's hourly minimum wage." A tipped employee must receive at least $17.13 in wages, and all tips and the employee's share of any service charge are paid on top.
Service charges deserve attention. If a restaurant adds an automatic gratuity or service charge, the itemized receipt must disclose what percentage goes to the employee, and that portion must be paid to the employee. Tip pooling among employees is allowed, but managers and supervisors cannot take a share. The Seattle and other local ordinances also prohibit tip credits.
Washington Minimum Wage Increase Schedule
Since the initiative's fixed steps ended in 2020, the rate has moved with inflation every January 1.
| Effective date | Minimum wage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2020 | $13.50 | Final step of Initiative 1433 |
| January 1, 2021 | $13.69 | CPI adjustment |
| January 1, 2022 | $14.49 | CPI adjustment |
| January 1, 2023 | $15.74 | CPI adjustment |
| January 1, 2024 | $16.28 | CPI adjustment |
| January 1, 2025 | $16.66 | CPI adjustment |
| January 1, 2026 | $17.13 | CPI adjustment (2.8 percent) |
| January 1, 2027 | Announced September 30, 2026 | CPI-W, August 2025 to August 2026 |
Unlike California, Washington has no cap on the annual adjustment, but the rate cannot fall if the CPI declines. Budget for a 2027 increase in line with inflation, likely in the $17.50 to $17.70 range, and confirm on September 30.
Local Minimum Wages in Washington
Washington cities may set higher minimum wages, and the Puget Sound region has the densest cluster of local ordinances in the country outside California. Rates below are from L&I's local minimum wage rates page for 2026.
| Jurisdiction | 2026 rate | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Tukwila | $21.65 | Employers meeting the ordinance's size, revenue or franchise criteria |
| Burien | $21.63 | Employers with 500 or more employees; $20.63 for 21 to 499 employees; 20 or fewer exempt |
| Renton | $21.57 | Employers with more than 500 employees; $20.57 January to June and $21.57 from July 1, 2026 for 15 to 500 employees |
| Seattle | $21.30 | All employers |
| King County (unincorporated) | $20.82 | Largest employers; $19.82 for 16 to 499 employees and for small employers earning $2 million or more; $18.32 for small employers under $2 million |
| Everett | $20.77 | Employers with more than 500 employees; $18.77 January to June and $19.77 from July 1, 2026 for 15 to 499 employees |
| SeaTac | $20.74 | Hospitality and transportation employers only |
| Bellingham | $19.13 | All employers |
Employer size is generally counted worldwide, not just in the city, so a national chain with a single Renton store is a large employer there. Local rates apply to hours worked inside city limits, including delivery drivers and remote employees who live in the city. Most of these ordinances adjust on January 1 using the same CPI method as the state.
Who Is Covered and Who Is Exempt
The Washington Minimum Wage Act covers nearly all employees. The main exceptions:
- Exempt executive, administrative, professional and outside sales employees, who must earn a salary of at least 2.25 times the state minimum wage in 2026, which is $80,168.40 per year ($1,541.70 per week). This is one of the highest exempt thresholds in the country. Confirm the multiplier for 2027 with L&I; it rises to 2.5 times for large employers in 2028. See exempt vs non-exempt employees.
- Workers aged 14 and 15, who may be paid 85 percent of the minimum.
- Certain agricultural workers, casual domestic workers, and volunteers under specific rules.
- Independent contractors, who must genuinely be in business for themselves.
Washington has no training wage and no separate rate for tipped workers, students or small businesses.
Overtime and the Minimum Wage
Washington requires 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. There is no daily overtime, although employees may request compensatory time off instead of overtime pay under limited conditions. Agricultural workers gained full 40-hour overtime protection in 2024. See overtime pay laws in the US for the details.
A minimum wage employee working 45 hours earns:
| Hours | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 40 regular hours | $17.13 | $685.20 |
| 5 overtime hours | $25.695 | $128.48 |
| Weekly gross pay | $813.68 |
In Seattle the same week at $21.30 is worth $1,011.75. Use the overtime calculator for other schedules.
What a Minimum Wage Worker Earns in Washington
| Period | Hours | State ($17.13) | Seattle ($21.30) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | 40 | $685.20 | $852.00 |
| Month (average) | 173.33 | $2,969.14 | $3,691.93 |
| Year | 2,080 | $35,630.40 | $44,304.00 |
Washington has no state income tax, so deductions are federal income tax, FICA, and the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave and WA Cares premiums. See gross pay vs net pay for how those come off, and the salary to hourly calculator to compare salaried offers.
Employer Compliance Checklist
- Post the L&I "Your Rights as a Worker" poster and any local ordinance notice (Seattle requires its own).
- Pay $17.13 or the applicable local rate for every hour worked, including travel between sites and required training.
- Never take a tip credit; pay out tips and the employee share of service charges in full and disclose service charge splits on receipts.
- Confirm exempt staff earn at least $80,168.40 in 2026, and calendar the multiplier change for 2028.
- Count worldwide headcount when deciding which local tier applies, and apply local rates to remote and delivery staff by work location.
- Keep time records for at least three years; a time card calculator helps verify weekly totals before payroll.
- Calendar September 30 for the 2027 state announcement and review the Washington labor law guide for paid sick leave and rest break rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Washington state in 2026?
$17.13 per hour for workers 16 and older, effective January 1, 2026. Workers aged 14 and 15 may be paid $14.56.
Is Washington minimum wage going up in 2027?
Yes. L&I adjusts the rate every January 1 based on the CPI-W and announces the 2027 figure on September 30, 2026.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Washington?
$17.13. Washington does not allow a tip credit, so tipped workers receive the full minimum wage plus all tips.
What is the minimum wage in Seattle?
$21.30 per hour for all employers in 2026. Tukwila is higher at $21.65, and Renton and Burien pay $21.57 and $21.63 for large employers.
Does Washington have the highest minimum wage in the US?
Among states, yes. Only the District of Columbia, at $18.40, is higher.
Is there a training or youth wage in Washington?
Only for 14- and 15-year-olds, who may be paid 85 percent of the minimum wage. There is no training wage for adults.
What is the minimum salary for exempt employees in Washington?
$80,168.40 per year in 2026, which is 2.25 times the minimum wage for a 40-hour week. The multiplier increases in 2028.
Does Washington minimum wage apply to remote employees?
Yes. Employees working from Washington are owed the state rate, and those working from inside a city with its own ordinance are owed the city rate.
Sources
- Washington L&I: Minimum Wage
- Washington L&I: Local Minimum Wage Rates
- US Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws
- US Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees
Reviewed September 2026
Washington announces its next rate on September 30 for January 1, and most local ordinances adjust on the same schedule. Confirm current figures with L&I and the relevant city before setting pay rates.
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