WAWashington minimum wage 2026 and 2027
The lowest your employer can pay you in Washington is $17.13 an hour, since January 1, 2026. It goes up to $17.73 on January 1, 2027. If you get tips, you must still get at least $17.13 an hour in cash, and tips are on top.
Washington minimum wage, all the numbers
| What | Amount | Where we checked |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour right now | $17.13 | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Next change | $17.73 January 1, 2027 | source |
| Cash pay for tipped workers | $17.13 | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Tips an employer may count toward the minimum | None | |
| Overtime rate at minimum wage (1.5 times) | $25.70 | Washington overtime rules |
| A 40-hour week | $685.20 | |
| A month, full time | $2,969.20 | |
| A year, full time (2,080 hours) | $35,630.40 | |
| Federal minimum (the national floor) | $7.25 | U.S. Department of Labor |
Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila and other cities set higher rates. No tip credit.
What these words mean
- Minimum wage
- The lowest hourly pay an employer may give you. Your state's rate applies if it is higher than the federal $7.25.
- Tip credit
- In some states an employer can pay tipped workers a lower cash wage and count your tips toward the minimum wage. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
- Overtime
- Extra pay for extra hours. Federal law says 1.5 times your normal rate for every hour over 40 in a work week. Some states add rules for long days.
- Wage complaint
- A free claim you file with your state labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor when you are not paid what the law requires.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in Washington right now?
$17.13 an hour, since January 1, 2026. Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila and other cities set higher rates.
Is the Washington minimum wage going up in 2027?
Yes. It goes up to $17.73 on January 1, 2027.
I get tips. What must my employer pay me in cash?
The full $17.13 an hour, before any tips. Washington does not let employers count tips toward the minimum wage. No tip credit.
What is my overtime rate if I earn minimum wage in Washington?
$25.70 an hour (1.5 times the minimum wage) for hours over 40 in a week. See Washington overtime rules.
How much is minimum wage per year in Washington?
$35,630.40 before tax for 40 hours a week all year (2,080 hours). That is $685.20 a week and $2,969.20 a month.
My employer pays less than $17.13. What can I do?
Check whether you are covered: a few small employers and some jobs have different rules (see the notes above). If you are covered, you can file a free wage complaint with the Washington labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor, and it is illegal to punish you for it.
More Washington pay rules
Verified October 29, 2026 against the U.S. Department of Labor state table and Washington sources. Next scheduled check: January 1, 2027. Change log.