On Tuesday, a proposal to set the minimum wage at $20.29 per hour in unincorporated King County advanced for consideration by the full council after passing a critical vote in the King County Council’s Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee.
King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, the original author of the legislation, praised the committee’s decision.
“Today’s vote is a significant step toward enhancing the economic well-being of workers and families throughout our region,” Zahilay said. “This effort, in partnership with small businesses and labor leaders in unincorporated areas like Skyway, aims to ensure prosperity is accessible to all in King County.”
Introduced last September by Zahilay and fellow councilmembers Rod Dembowski, Teresa Mosqueda, and Jorge L. Barón, the bill seeks to address wage disparities in areas lagging behind nearby cities. Skyway, for example, follows the state’s minimum wage of $16.28 but is bordered by Tukwila and Seattle, where minimum wages are $20.29 and $19.97 respectively.
The proposed wage structure includes provisions for smaller employers. Businesses with fewer than 15 employees and annual revenues below $2 million would start at $17.29 per hour. This rate would gradually increase by $0.50 annually until it aligns with the $20.29 rate in 2030. Similarly, slightly larger employers either with higher revenues or more employees would begin at $18.29, increasing by $1.00 each year until 2026.
The full council is slated to cast a final vote on the ordinance in the upcoming weeks. If approved, the new minimum wage wouldn’t be effective until January 1, 2025, and will adjust annually based on inflation, the exact rates of which will be determined this fall.
