Washington minimum wage to rise to $17.73 an hour Jan. 1

Washington's minimum wage will go up 60 cents to $17.73 an hour on Jan. 1, the state Department of Labor & Industries announced Sept. 30.

The 3.5% increase applies to most workers in the state, including in North Central Washington. The current minimum is $17.13. State law requires L&I to adjust the wage each year based on the change in the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers from August to August.

Employers may pay 14- and 15-year-olds 85% of the minimum wage, which will be $15.07 an hour in 2027, up from $14.56.

The increase also raises the salary that some workers must earn to be exempt from overtime pay. Starting Jan. 1, employers with 51 or more employees must pay exempt executive, administrative and professional workers at least 2.5 times the minimum wage, up from 2.25 times. That works out to $1,773 a week, or $92,196 a year.

For businesses with 50 or fewer employees, the multiplier stays at 2.25 times in 2027, or $1,595 a week ($82,976 a year). It is scheduled to rise to 2.5 in 2028.

Exempt computer professionals paid hourly must earn at least $62.06 an hour.

State law will ban non-compete clauses starting in July 2027. From January through June, employers can enforce a non-compete only for employees earning at least $131,326 a year, or for independent contractors earning at least $328,316.

Several western Washington cities, including Seattle, Bellingham and Everett, set higher local minimums. The federal minimum wage remains $7.25 an hour.

Workers and employers with questions can call L&I's Employment Standards Program at 360-902-5316 or 1-866-219-7321, or visit lni.wa.gov.