Washington State Minimum Wage 2026: Everything You Need to Know

All workers in Washington State (WA) are entitled to receive an hourly Minimum Wage rate according to Washington Labor Laws and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This Minimum Wage requirement includes a special wage rate for minors. In addition, there are multiple local municipalities in Washington State that have their own minimum wage as well.

Employees must be compensated for all hours worked in Washington State, and such compensation must be compliant with Washington Minimum Wage Law.

Effective 01/01/2026:

In areas outside Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Bellingham, Burien, Everett, King County, and Renton, the Washington State Minimum Wage is $17.13 per hour as of January 1st, 2026.

Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Bellingham, Burien, Everett, King County, and Renton also increased their local minimum wage rates (see below).

Minimum wage is the cornerstone for all Washington Payroll Laws, and so it is crucial to keep your business up to date.

Effective 01/01/2025:

In areas outside Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Bellingham, Burien, and Renton, the Washington State Minimum Wage is $16.66 per hour as of January 1st, 2025.

Effective 01/01/2024:

In areas outside Seattle, SeaTac, and Tukwila, the Washington State Minimum Wage is $16.28 per hour, effective as of 01/01/2024.

Effective 01/01/2023:

In areas outside Seattle and SeaTac, the Washington State Minimum Wage is $15.74 per hour, effective as of 01/01/2023.  

Washington State Minimum Wage in 2026

In addition to the state as a whole, Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Bellingham, Burien, Everett, King County, and Renton also increased their local minimum wage rates for 2026 (see the sections below).

In areas outside Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Bellingham, Burien, Everett, King County, and Renton, the Washington State Minimum Wage is $17.13 per hour as of January 1st, 2026.

Washington State Minimum Wage Schedule

Every September, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries evaluates the cost-of-living and adjusts the minimum wage accordingly. Each year, a minimum wage update will be announced on September 30th and take effect on January 1st of the following year.

Important to note for Washington State Employers is that all tips and service charges must be paid to the employee, and they can not be counted toward an employee's hourly minimum wage.

Employers must also ensure they understand Federal Overtime-Exempt requirements as well as state overtime requirements, in order to fully manage compliance with wage and payroll requirements.

WA Minimum Wage Qualifications

Most agricultural and non-agricultural jobs qualify for the minimum wage. However, there are certain exemptions. 

Exemptions to WA Minimum Wage

Employers can apply for a sub-minimum wage certificate for the following types of workers:

• Certificated on-the-job learners (no less than 85%)
• Certificated student workers and student learners (no less than 75%)
• Certificated workers with disabilities
• Certain apprentices
• Certain minors
• Jobs exempt from the Minimum Wage Act

Special Wage Rate for Minors

In Washington State, employees who are between the ages of 14 and 15 may be compensated at a wage rate of no less than 85% of the minimum wage. 

Local Washington State Minimum Wage Rates

The cities of Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Bellingham, Burien, Everett, King County, and Renton currently have separate minimum wage rates.

Seattle Minimum Wage

As of January 1st, 2026, the Seattle Minimum Wage is $21.30 per hour. This new wage applies to all Seattle employers regardless of employer size.

Small employers can no longer compensate employees at a wage rate of $17.25 per hour, if the employer paid $2.72 per hour toward medical benefits, or the employee earned at least that much per hour in tips.

SeaTac Minimum Wage

The SeaTac Minimum Wage is $20.74 per hour for Hospitality and Transportation Industry employers only, as of 01/01/2026.

Tukwila Minimum Wage

Tukwila Minimum Wage applies to employers who have 15 or more workers worldwide, or who earn more than $2 million in annual gross revenue in Tukwila, or who are franchisees or a network of franchises with over 500 employees worldwide.

The Tukwila minimum wage is $21.65 per hour, and can include commissions but not tips.

The minimum wage no longer depends on employer size. 

Bellingham Minimum Wage

As of January 1st, 2026, the Bellingham minimum wage is $19.13 per hour.

Future increases will be set at $2.00 above the state minimum wage each year.

Burien Minimum Wage

As of October 28th, 2024, Burien passed its own minimum wage law that applies to employers with over 20 employees. New rates are in effect as of January 1st, 2026. 

The applicable Burien Minimum Wage rate depends on the "Level" of the employer, which depends on the following:

• Level 1 ($21.63 per hour) - State Minimum Wage + $4.50 - all employers, including franchisees, that employ more than 500 full-time employees in King County or franchisors who employ more than 500 FTEs in the aggregate.
• Level 2 ($20.63 per hour) - State Minimum Wage + $3.50 - all employers, including franchisees, that employ 21 – 499 full-time employees in King County
• Level 3 ($17.13 per hour) - State Minimum Wage - all employers with 20 or fewer full-time employees

Everett

The Everett Minimum Wage is dependent on the size of the employer or the annual gross income of the business. 

Effective January 1st, 2026: 

• Large Employers (500 employees  or more) - $20.77 per hour
• Covered Employers (15-499 employees, or an annual gross income of over $2 million in Everett) - $18.77 per hour

Effective July 1st, 2026, the minimum wage for Covered Employers will increase again to $19.77 per hour. Employers with fewer than 15 employees must observe the current state minimum wage. 

King County

King County Minimum Wage depends on the size and annual gross income of the business. 

As of January 1st, 2026, the minimum wage rates are: 

• $19.82 per hour - 15 or fewer employees and an annual gross revenue of at least $2 million, OR, more than 15 employees but fewer than 500 employees
• $18.32 per hour - 15 or fewer employees and an annual gross revenue of less than $2 million
• $20.82 per hour - 500 employers or more

Renton Minimum Wage

The Renton Minimum Wage depends on the size of the employer as well as the type of business. 

As of January 1st, 2026, the minimum wage rates are:

• $21.57 per hour - for large employers (more than 500 employees worldwide and certain franchises)
• $20.57 per hour - for mid-sized employers (15-499 employees worldwide, or those with an annual gross income of over $2 million in Renton)
• $17.13 per hour - employers with fewer than 15 employees

Effective July 1st, 2026, the minimum wage rate for mid-sized employers will increase again to $21.57 per hour. 

Staying Prepared for Washington State Minimum Wage Updates

If the business you own is located in Washington State, or even more importantly, Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Bellingham, Burien, Everett, King County, and / or Renton, it is going to need to prepare for an increase in the minimum wage every year.

Companies with a plethora of workers who are compensated at the minimum wage will experience a rise in staffing costs, which can be disruptive to business operations if unprepared.

Here are some things the business should do to prepare for the future Washington State Minimum Wage Updates:

• Review & Update Budgets
• Review HCM Technology and Payroll Solutions
• Review & Document Policies

Businesses can also stay ahead of minimum wage updates by utilizing a labor law poster subscription service.

Get Help with WA Minimum Wage Compliance

Managing compliance with minimum wage might seem straightforward initially, "pay employees at least this much", but in a state like Washington with varying rules depending on employee type and business location, things can get tricky. 

For instance, regardless of Washington State At-Will Employment, employers may not fire or otherwise retaliate against an employee who exercises a protected right, files or intends to file a complaint, or who has discussed potential violations of their rights under Washington State Minimum Wage.

Business that are struggling with minimum wage compliance may want to consider reaching out to a Washington Payroll company for assistance. 

To learn more about how PayNW is helping countless businesses in Washington with minimum wage compliance through modern payroll software, contact us today.