Washington Minimum Wage
Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's State Minimum Wage Laws table, updated November 5, 2026.
Scheduled: $17.73 from January 1, 2027.
Source: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, news release 26-17, read November 10, 2026.
- Rate in effect
- $17.13
- Federal minimum
- $7.25
- Full-time year
- $35,630
- State rank
- 2nd of 51
Local ordinances and sector rates can be higher where state law allows them, and are not shown here. To confirm a local or sector rate, use the state agency listed on the Department of Labor's State Labor Offices page.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05. Checked against NCSL state minimum wage table (as of 2026-07-01); EPI 2026 table where listed. A full-time year is 2,080 hours, the convention BLS uses. Confirm the rate in the Department of Labor table. Table read November 10, 2026; rechecked on the January 1 and July 1 statutory change dates, next on January 1, 2027. Scheduled rates are shown where the Department of Labor or the state's own agency publishes one we could read; a state showing none may still have one, so check its labor office.
How does Washington's minimum wage compare with the federal rate?
The rate in Washington is $9.88 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Washington?
The minimum cash wage for tipped workers in Washington is $17.13, and the Department of Labor lists no tip credit.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, updated November 5, 2026.
How does the minimum compare with pay in Washington?
The lowest-paid tenth of jobs in Washington paid $18.59 an hour or less in May 2025, so the current minimum equals 92% of that line and 57% of the state's median hourly pay of $30.28.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, all occupations, hourly; minimum wage as listed on November 5, 2026. The wage figures are from May 2025, so a rate raised since then can sit above them. Confirm the wage figures in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.
Which occupations in Washington pay closest to the minimum?
Recreation workers have the 10th-percentile wage closest to $17.13, at $17.14 an hour, among occupations with at least 100 jobs.
| Occupation | 10th percentile | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreation Workers | $17.14 | $21.58 | 6,380 |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $17.11 | $21.81 | 1,100 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $17.15 | $18.58 | 670 |
| Cashiers | $17.10 | $18.62 | 61,050 |
| Dishwashers | $17.10 | $19.27 | 12,630 |
| Medical Transcriptionists | $17.20 | $18.60 | 620 |
| School Bus Monitors | $17.20 | $20.35 | 470 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $17.05 | $19.26 | 8,270 |
| Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons | $17.21 | $18.92 | 160 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $17.22 | $18.09 | 460 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, hourly wages. Confirm in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.