WA minimum wage will rise to $17.73 an hour in 2027
The increase also lifts overtime-exempt pay thresholds and keeps youth wages at 85% of the minimum, L&I said.
- On Wednesday, The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries announced Washington's minimum wage will rise to $17.73 an hour effective Jan. 1, 2027, a 3.5 percent increase from the current $17.13.
- State law requires Labor to calculate the wage using the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, comparing CPI-W data from August of the previous year to August of the current year.
- When the minimum wage increases, the overtime-exempt multiplier becomes 2.5 times the minimum wage; employees must earn at least $1,773 a week to be exempt from overtime pay.
- Employers can pay 14- and 15-years-old workers 85 percent of the minimum wage, which will be $15.07 an hour. Several cities including Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Renton, Bellingham, Everett, Burien, and King County maintain higher rates.
- Currently, the federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 an hour since July 24, 2009. Washington's $17.73 rate stands far above the federal floor, reflecting the state's independent wage-setting authority.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
WA minimum wage will rise to $17.73 an hour in 2027
Effective Jan. 1, 2027, Washington state’s new minimum wage will be $17.73 an hour, an increase of 3.5 percent.
Washington Wage Floor Hits $17.73 in 2027 as Seattle Climbs to $22.14, Raising the Bill for Retail and Hospitality Tenants
Washington's statewide wage floor climbs to $17.73 an hour on Jan. 1, while Seattle moves to $22.14 and a sharply higher overtime-exempt salary bar for large employers lands on the payrolls of restaurant groups, hotel operators, retailers and property management firms.
Minimum Wage Rises to $17.73 an Hour in 2027
Washington’s minimum wage will rise 3.5 percent next year to $17.73 an hour. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced the increase today; it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. Washington employers must pay most employees at least the minimum wage for every hour worked. State law requires L&I to calculate Washington’s minimum...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 94% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
