More than 1 million workers nationwide earn the federal minimum wage of $7.25 or less. Even more workers earn the minimum wage in their states, but these state minimums vary greatly.
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Here are the states with the highest minimum wages as of 2024 .
Washington: $16.28
In 2024, the state minimum wage in Washington is $16.28 per hour — the highest in the country. Some cities in Washington have higher minimum wages.
Washington employers can pay some workers less than the state minimum wage. For example, they can pay workers who are 14 or 15 years old less, but their wages still need to be at least 85% of the state minimum wage.
Every year in mid-September, Washington adjusts the state minimum wage to account for cost-of-living changes. Washington’s new state minimum wage will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. The Washington Labor and Industries Department has not yet announced what it will be.