The Washington state minimum wage is $17.13/hr, effective January 1, 2026, the highest statewide minimum wage in the United States. Washington is also one of a handful of states with no tip credit: tipped workers must be paid the full $17.13/hr rate in direct wages, with tips on top, not counted toward the minimum.
Washington's Minimum Wage Is Indexed to Inflation
Washington automatically adjusts its minimum wage every year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), without requiring new legislation. The state's Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) recalculates the rate each year from the change in the federal CPI-W index over the prior 12 months, rounds to the nearest cent, and publishes the new figure ahead of the following January 1. Here's the recent year-by-year progression:
| Year | Minimum Wage |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $13.69/hr |
| 2022 | $14.49/hr |
| 2023 | $15.74/hr |
| 2024 | $16.28/hr |
| 2025 | $16.66/hr |
| 2026 | $17.13/hr |
The jump from 2025 to 2026 was one of the larger increases in recent years — up $0.47, or roughly 2.8% — reflecting a hotter stretch of inflation than the prior year, when the rate rose just $0.38 from 2024 to 2025. Because the adjustment is purely CPI-driven, the size of each year's increase tracks inflation itself rather than any fixed schedule or percentage. Washington hasn't yet published a rate for January 2027; L&I typically finalizes the following year's figure in the fall based on CPI data through the preceding August. For the official current rate and methodology, see L&I's minimum wage page.
What a Paycheck Looks Like at Washington's Minimum Wage
For a full-time worker earning the Washington state minimum wage of $17.13/hr, here's what gross pay (before taxes and deductions) looks like across common pay periods, assuming a standard 40-hour week:
| Pay Period | Hours | Gross Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 40 | $685.20 |
| Biweekly | 80 | $1,370.40 |
| Semi-monthly | 86.67 | $1,484.60 |
| Monthly | 173.33 | $2,969.20 |
Overtime works the same way it does anywhere else in Washington: any hours worked beyond 40 in a single week must be paid at 1.5 times the regular rate, which comes to $25.70/hr for a minimum-wage worker. Someone who works 45 hours in a week would earn $685.20 for the first 40 hours, plus $128.48 for the 5 overtime hours ($25.695 x 5) — a gross weekly total of $813.68.
Seattle Pays Even More Than the State Rate
Several Washington cities set their own local minimum wage above the state rate. Seattle's is the highest in the state, and one of the highest of any city in the country:
- Large employers (501+ employees): $20.76/hr
- Small employers (1–500 employees): $19.06/hr
Tacoma's local minimum wage follows the state rate directly rather than setting its own higher figure — currently $17.13/hr, matching the state exactly. Other major cities, including Spokane, Bellevue, Bellingham, Renton, and Vancouver, WA, all follow the state's $17.13/hr rate as well; none of them currently has a documented local minimum wage ordinance above the state level.
Washington doesn't preempt local minimum wage laws the way roughly two out of every five states do. Cities and counties are free to set a rate above the state figure, which is exactly why Seattle can require $19.06 to $20.76/hr while Tacoma, Spokane, and Bellevue simply choose to follow the statewide number instead. That local flexibility is a big part of why Seattle's rate has pulled so far ahead — there's nothing in state law stopping other Washington cities from doing the same, they just haven't.
How Washington Compares to Oregon and Idaho
Washington's minimum wage looks even more striking next to its immediate neighbors. Oregon's standard minimum wage is $15.55/hr (effective July 1, 2026), $1.58 below Washington's rate — though Oregon's Portland metro area pays a higher local rate of $16.45/hr, narrowing that gap to $0.68. Idaho is a different story entirely: it simply tracks the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr, unchanged since 2009. Idaho Code § 44-1502 ties the state rate to the federal floor and bars cities and counties from enacting their own higher minimum wage ordinances. That means a full-time worker earning the Washington state minimum wage takes home more than double what a full-time minimum-wage worker earns just across the border in Idaho — $35,630 a year in Washington versus $15,080 a year in Idaho, a difference of more than $20,500.
How Washington Compares Nationally
At $17.13/hr, the Washington state minimum wage is the highest of any state in the country. California is next at $16.90/hr, a gap of $0.23. Connecticut, at $16.94/hr, has closed to within $0.19 of Washington — the narrowest margin between Washington and its closest competitor in recent memory. New York's statewide rate is $16.00/hr, though New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County all pay a regional override of $17.00/hr, just $0.13 below Washington's statewide figure. Rhode Island, currently at $16.00/hr, is already scheduled to rise to $17.00/hr on January 1, 2027. Nationally, the range is wide: of the 50 states, 20 — mostly across the South and Mountain West — remain at the federal floor of $7.25/hr, unchanged since 2009. Washington sits at the opposite extreme, nearly $10/hr above that floor. For a full breakdown of every state's minimum wage, see the US Department of Labor's state minimum wage list.
Exempt Salary Threshold in Washington
Washington also sets its own minimum salary threshold for employees classified as exempt from overtime: $1,155.58/week ($60,090/year). Salaried employees paid below this must generally still receive overtime pay, regardless of job title. This threshold is set independently of the hourly minimum wage and is also indexed to update annually, so employers can't rely on a fixed salary figure staying compliant year over year — it needs to be checked every January alongside the hourly rate.
What's the Salary at Washington's Minimum Wage?
At a standard 40-hour week (2,080 hours/year), here's how annual pay compares across Washington's minimum wage tiers:
| State Rate / Tacoma ($17.13/hr) | Seattle, Small Employer ($19.06/hr) | Seattle, Large Employer ($20.76/hr) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | $685 | $762 | $830 |
| Monthly | $2,969 | $3,304 | $3,598 |
| Annually | $35,630 | $39,645 | $43,181 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Washington State?
$17.13/hr as of January 1, 2026, the highest statewide minimum wage in the US.
Does Washington have a lower minimum wage for tipped workers?
No. Washington has no tip credit: tipped employees must be paid the full $17.13/hr in direct wages, plus tips.
Is Seattle's minimum wage different from the rest of Washington?
Yes. Seattle's local minimum wage is $20.76/hr for large employers (501+ employees) and $19.06/hr for small employers (1–500 employees), both higher than the $17.13/hr state rate.
Does Tacoma have its own minimum wage?
No. Tacoma follows the Washington state rate directly — currently $17.13/hr — rather than setting a higher local rate the way Seattle does.
Why does Washington's minimum wage change every year?
State law ties it directly to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), so it adjusts automatically each January without requiring new legislation.
What was Washington's minimum wage in 2025?
$16.66/hr. It rose $0.47 to reach $17.13/hr on January 1, 2026.
Is Washington's minimum wage higher than California's?
Yes. Washington's $17.13/hr is $0.23 ahead of California's $16.90/hr.
How does Washington's minimum wage compare to Oregon and Idaho?
Washington's $17.13/hr is well above Oregon's standard $15.55/hr and far above Idaho's $7.25/hr, which simply tracks the federal minimum and hasn't changed since 2009.
What is the exempt salary threshold in Washington?
$1,155.58/week, or $60,090/year. Salaried employees paid below this must generally still receive overtime, regardless of job title.
Can Washington cities set their own minimum wage?
Yes. Unlike states that preempt local wage laws, Washington lets cities and counties set a minimum wage above the state rate, which is why Seattle's local rate is higher than the statewide $17.13/hr figure.
See the live, always-current rate on our Washington minimum wage page.
