Washington minimum wage 2026
OfficialThe Washington rate, the next increase and a full-time paycheck after tax.
- Minimum wage
- $17.13
- an hour
- Next rate
- $17.73
- January 1, 2027
- Full time, after tax
- $30,315
- a year
- Rank
- #2 of 51
- by minimum wage, 1 is the highest
What is the minimum wage in Washington in 2026?
Will the Washington minimum wage go up in 2027?
Yes. It rises to $17.73 an hour on January 1, 2027 (announced), $0.60 more than today.
$17.13 an hour
- Today, November 1, 2026
Projected
$17.73 an hour
How much is minimum wage a year in Washington?
Full time, a Washington minimum wage job pays $35,630 a year before tax.
- A year
- $35,630
- A month
- $2,969.20
- Every two weeks
- $1,370.40
- A week
- $685.20
How this is calculated
- The hourly rate times 40 hours a week times 52 weeks.
How much is a minimum wage paycheck after taxes in Washington?
After taxes, full-time minimum wage work in Washington takes home $30,315 a year. Each paycheck every two weeks comes to $1,165.95. It takes 68.6 hours of work to take home $1,000. There is no Washington state income tax on minimum wage pay. Run your own hours through the Washington hourly paycheck calculator.
- Take-home per year
- $30,315
- Every two weeks
- $1,165.95
- Per hour after tax
- $14.57
- In national prices
- $28,328
How this is calculated
- Full-time pay of $35,630 through federal, Social Security, Medicare and Washington taxes for 2026.
- The reference worker is a single filer with one job, paid every two weeks, with a standard Form W-4 and no pre-tax deductions, under 65.
Is $20 an hour good pay in Washington?
It is below the middle: $20 an hour is more than 15% of Washington workers earn, but less than half of them. The Washington median wage is $30.28 an hour.
Wage statistics cover employees in all jobs, full and part time, not the self-employed.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Washington?
Washington does not allow a tip credit, so tipped workers get the full $17.13 an hour before tips.
Which Washington cities have a higher minimum wage?
Some Washington cities and counties set their own higher minimum wage. Seattle pays $21.30 an hour.
| Place | Kind | Minimum wage | Since | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | city | $21.30 | January 1, 2026 | $22.14 on January 1, 2027 |
Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Renton, Bellingham, Everett, Burien and unincorporated King County have higher minimum wages than the state.
How has the Washington minimum wage changed?
The Washington minimum wage rose from $9.47 an hour in 2016 to $17.13 today. It was $1.60 in 1968.
How does the Washington minimum wage compare with other states?
Washington ranks #2 of 51; the highest is Washington, DC at $18.40 an hour. The closest rate is Connecticut's minimum wage, followed by California and New York. The minimum wage in every state page lists all of them.
Questions people ask
How much is minimum wage per week in Washington?
Full time, a Washington minimum wage job takes home $582.98 a week after taxes.
Is the Washington minimum wage worth more in local prices?
No. After taxes and Washington prices, a full-time minimum wage job is worth $28,328 a year at average US prices, less than its $30,315 take-home.