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Washington minimum wage in 2027

OfficialUpdated Source: KPTV

Washington’s minimum wage rises from $17.13 to $17.73 an hour on Jan 1, 2027, about $1,248 more a year for a full-time worker.

  • Minimum wage from Jan 1, 2027$17.73/hr
    Now: $17.13
  • Raise per hour+$0.60
    3.5% more
  • Full-time pay at the new rate$36,878/yr
    2,080 hours, before taxes
  • Extra pay for a full-time worker+$1,248/yr

What changes in Washington

  • Set by the Department of Labor & Industries from the CPI-W, comparing August 2025 to August 2026.
  • Workers aged 14 and 15 may be paid 85% of the minimum: $15.07 an hour in 2027, up from $14.56.
  • Salaried overtime-exempt staff at employers with 51 or more workers must earn 2.5 times the minimum wage: $1,773 a week ($92,196 a year).
  • At employers with 50 or fewer workers the multiplier stays 2.25: about $1,595 a week ($82,976 a year).
  • Computer professionals paid hourly must earn 3.5 times the minimum: $62.06 an hour.
  • Seattle’s minimum wage rises from $21.30 to $22.14 on Jan 1, 2027, for all employers.

What the Washington rate means for a paycheck

Pay at exactly the state minimum, before taxes. Hours over 40 are paid at 1.5 times the rate. A higher city or county rate would apply where it exists.

Washington and nearby states

Statewide minimum wage on January 1, 2027
StateNowJan 1, 2027
Washington$17.13$17.73
Oregon$15.55$15.55
Idaho$7.25$7.25

See every state’s 2027 minimum wage for the full list.

Common questions

What will Washington’s minimum wage be in 2027?

$17.73 an hour from January 1, 2027, announced by the state. It is $17.13 now.

How much is $17.73 an hour a year?

About $36,878 for a full-time worker at 2,080 hours, before taxes. That is $1,248 more than at today’s $17.13.

Does Washington use the federal minimum wage?

No. Washington’s rate is higher than the federal $7.25, so the state rate applies to most jobs. If a city or county sets a higher rate, that one applies.

When do employers have to start paying the new rate?

For hours worked on or after January 1, 2027, even if payday falls later in January.

Sources

  1. Washington minimum wage rising to $17.73 in 2027, KPTV, Oct 1, 2026
  2. Minimum wage by state 2027, StartBusinessByState.com, Oct 16, 2026
  3. 2027 state-by-state and local minimum wage changes, Experian Employer Services
  4. State minimum wage laws, U.S. Department of Labor

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