Washington’s Minimum Wage for 2024 Announced

Effective January 1, 2024, Washington’s minimum wage for non-exempt employees 16 years and older will increase to $16.28 per hour.  State law allows workers aged 14-15 to be paid 85% of the minimum wage.  Accordingly, the minimum wage for workers aged 14-15 will increase to $13.84.  The federal minimum wage remains unchanged at $7.25 per hour for 2024. 

 State law allows municipalities to set their own minimum wage above that set by the State.  Several Washington municipalities have their own minimum wage and have likewise announced increases for 2024. 

SeaTac: $19.71 per hour

Seattle:  

• $19.97 per hour
  • Large employers with greater than 500 employees;
  • Small employers with 500 or fewer employees and
    • employer does not pay at least $2.72 per hour toward medical benefits or
    • employees do not earn at least $2.72 per hour in tip
• $17.25 per hour
  • Small employer with 500 or fewer employees

Tukwila:

• $20.29 per hour
  • Large employers with greater than 500 employees worldwide and certain franchisees as defined by TMC 5.63
• $18.29 per hour (1/1/2024 through 6/30/2024) / $19.29 per hour (7/1/2024 through 12/31/2024)
  • Mid-sized employer with at least 15 but no more than 500 employees worldwide, or over $2 million of annual gross revenue in Tukwila
• No municipal minimum wage – see Washington minimum wage laws
  • Employers with fewer than 15 employees worldwide and $2 million or less of annual gross revenue in Tukwila and are not associated with a franchisor or network of franchisees that employ more than 500 employees in aggregate

There are also minimum pay requirements for rideshare drivers, which must be followed and vary by location.