Source: Labor & Industries

Further information:

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) makes a cost-of-living adjustment annually to the minimum wage based on the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

The state minimum wage applies to workers aged 16 and older. Under state law, employers can pay 85 percent of the minimum wage to workers ages 14-15.

Source: City of Bellingham

Further information:

As of May 1, 2024, the current minimum wage in Bellingham is $17.28, $1.00 above the Washington State minimum wage for 2024. Further increases in the city minimum wage will be tied to changes to the Washington State minimum wage.

• Starting January 1, 2025, the city minimum wage will be set at $17.66 so that it remains $1.00 above the Washington State minimum wage of $16.66, which takes effect on January 1, 2025.
• Starting May 1, 2025, the city minimum wage will be set at $2.00 above the applicable Washington State minimum wage.
• Every year after, starting in 2026, the city minimum wage will be set at $2.00 above the applicable Washington State minimum wage effective on January 1 every year. The city will establish the city minimum wage within two weeks of the publication of the new state minimum wage.

Source: City of Burien

Further information

Burien’s minimum wage ordinance defines its levels. The difference between the Washington state minimum wage of $16.66 per hour and the Burien local minimum wage may be made up using total compensation. For more information on calculating your minimum wage, please follow this link here.

A Level 1 employer means all employers, including franchisees, that employ more than 500 FTEs in King County or franchisors who employ more than 500 FTEs in the aggregate.

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m., Level 1 employers shall pay each employee an hourly minimum wage of at least $4.50 over the Washington state hourly minimum wage.

A Level 2 employer means all employers, including franchisees, that employ 21 to 499 FTEs in King County. Effective July 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m., Level 2 employers shall pay each employee an hourly minimum wage of at least $3.50 over the Washington state hourly minimum wage.

A Level 3 employer is any employer with 20 or fewer FTEs and is exempt from this ordinance.

Source: City of Everett

Further information:

Voters in Everett approved a new minimum wage measure in 2024, which had significant implications for local businesses.

• Starting July 1, 2025, employers with more than 500 employees will pay a minimum wage of $20.24 per hour. For smaller employers between 15 and 500 employees, the minimum hourly wage would be $18.24 beginning July 1, 2025 and will gradually increase to the full municipal minimum by July 1, 2027. Those employers with 14 or fewer employees would not be affected.
• Several other provisions of the initiative went into effect on Nov. 26, 2024, when the election was certified. You can read more in our analysis here.

Source: King County

Further information:

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, employers in unincorporated King County with 500 employees or more will immediately pay $20.29 per hour, plus the annual inflation adjustment. Employers with 16 to 499 employees will pay $2 less than large employers’ minimum wage. This $2 deduction will decrease by $1 annually on Jan. 1 each year.

Employers with 15 or fewer employees with an annual gross revenue of less than $2 million will pay three dollars less than large employers’ minimum wage. This $3 deduction will decrease by $0.50 annually on Jan. 1 each year.

NOTE: this only applies in unincorporated King County. It does not apply to businesses within cities in King County. Unsure if you’re in unincorporated King County? Click here to check your address. Type your business address into the search bar. If the result is “This address is outside of the King County service area,” then you are not in unincorporated King County.

Source: City of Renton

Further information:

Starting July 1, 2024, employers in the city of Renton must pay a higher minimum wage. Large employers of 500 or more employees worldwide and certain franchises must pay a minimum of $20.29 per hour.

Employers with more than 15 but no more than 500 employees or with no more than $2 million in gross revenue must pay their employees a minimum of $18.29 per hour.

Employers who do not meet these requirements must adhere to the state minimum wage.

Source: Office of Labor Standards

Further information:

The city of Seattle’s minimum wage will be $20.76 for all employers in 2025. The total compensation credit, which has allowed small businesses to use a portion of tips or payment towards medical benefits to count toward the minimum wage for the last decade, will sunset on Dec. 31.

Your local government affairs team attempted to engage with city leaders for the last several months and offered multiple alternatives as a compromise that would have provided reasonable wage increases while also allowing small businesses to keep their doors open. We are extremely disappointed that the mayor would terminate a public policy process before it even got under way.

You can review what the association has been doing to push back against skyrocketing labor costs here and here.

Source: City of SeaTac

Further information:

The city of SeaTac announced its 2025 minimum wage on Oct. 1. As of Jan. 1, 2025, the new minimum wage in SeaTac increased to $20.17 for employees who work in the transportation and hospitality industries.

Source: City of Tukwila

Further information:

On July 1, 2025, mid-size employers are required to increase their minimum wage rate to equal the large employer rate of $21.10. Going forward, mid-size employer minimum wage will be the same as the large employer rate.