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…