Starting January 1, Washington’s minimum wage will increase by 2.8% to $17.13 per hour, as announced by the state Department of Labor and Industries on Tuesday. This new rate surpasses the current national leader of $16.66 per hour, with California and certain areas of New York not far behind at $16.50. In contrast, the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25.
The annual increase in Washington’s minimum wage is tied to inflation. For comparison, California’s minimum wage is set to rise slightly to $16.90 in 2026, alongside adjustments to the salary threshold for exempting certain workers from overtime pay.
Several cities, including Seattle, Bellingham, Burien, Everett, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila, have established minimum wages above the state level, as has unincorporated King County. In Lynnwood, advocates are rallying support for a ballot measure to raise the minimum wage to $20.24 per hour.
By 2026, employers in Washington will also be required to pay exempt workers at least 2.25 times the minimum wage, amounting to $80,168 annually. This marks a significant increase from this year’s threshold of $69,305 for small employers and $77,969 for larger ones. By 2028, this figure is projected to rise to $93,392, equating to 2.5 times the minimum wage across all businesses.
For teen workers aged 14 and 15, the minimum wage will be set at 85% of the standard rate, resulting in a pay of $14.56 per hour in 2026.
Additionally, the minimum wage for ride-sharing drivers on platforms like Lyft and Uber will see an increase. In Seattle, drivers will earn 70 cents per minute and $1.63 per mile, or a minimum of $6.12 per trip. Outside of Seattle, they will receive 40 cents per minute and $1.38 per mile, with a minimum fare of $3.55.
This year, Washington lawmakers considered a proposal to expedite minimum wage increases to $25 by 2031; however, this legislation did not pass and may be revisited in the 2026 session beginning in January. Complaints regarding violations of the state minimum wage can be submitted to the Department of Labor and Industries.
