2025 Washington Minimum Wage and Salary Threshold Updates
The state’s minimum wage will rise to $16.66 per hour starting January 1, 2025, reflecting a 2.35% increase from the 2024 rate of $16.28 per hour. This adjustment is influenced by higher housing and food costs and impacts various wage and salary thresholds statewide. Additionally, some local jurisdictions have established higher minimum wage rates.
Statewide Minimum Wage and Salary Thresholds
State Minimum Wage Increase: Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum wage for Washington will be $16.66 per hour.
Salary Threshold for Overtime-Exempt Employees:
- Small employers (up to 50 employees in Washington) must pay exempt employees at least twice the minimum wage, equating to $1,332.80 per week ($69,305.60 annually).
- Large employers (51 or more employees in Washington) must pay exempt employees at least 2.25 times the minimum wage, equating to $1,499.40 per week ($77,968.80 annually).
Local Minimum Wage Requirements
Several cities in Washington have adopted higher local minimum wage rates for 2025:
Seattle: All employers must pay a minimum wage of $20.76 per hour. Small employers can no longer count tips or medical benefit payments toward the minimum wage. This rate applies to all hours worked within Seattle, including occasional work exceeding two hours within a two-week period.
SeaTac: Hospitality and transportation workers will see a minimum wage increase to $20.17 per hour.
Tukwila:
- For mid-size employers (15–500 employees globally or over $2 million annual gross revenue in Tukwila), the minimum wage increases to $20.10 per hour on January 1, 2025, and $21.10 per hour on July 1, 2025.
- Large employers (more than 500 employees globally) must pay $21.10 per hour starting January 1, 2025.
Renton:
- From January 1 to June 30, 2025, the rate for mid-size employers will be $18.90 per hour, increasing to $19.90 per hour from July 1 to December 31, 2025.
- Large employers will pay $20.90 per hour starting January 1, 2025.
Bellingham:
- From January 1 to April 30, 2025, the minimum wage will be $17.66 per hour, rising to $18.66 per hour from May 1 to December 31, 2025.
- Beginning in 2026, the city’s minimum wage will always be set at $2.00 above the state minimum wage.
Burien:
- Level 1 employers (more than 500 full-time employees in King County) must pay $4.50 above the state minimum wage starting January 1, 2025.
- Level 2 employers (21–499 full-time employees in King County) must pay $3.50 above the state minimum wage starting July 1, 2025.
- Level 3 employers (20 or fewer full-time employees) are exempt from this ordinance.
Employers in these cities should review and align their payroll systems to comply with both state and local wage laws, effective January 1, 2025.