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U.S. Department of Labor · Jul 1, 2026

Minimum wage in Washington

$17.13 an hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor. Full time (2,080 hours) that is $35,630 a year before tax (our calculation). Adjusted annually by formula; higher in some cities

Note: Adjusted annually by formula; higher in some cities

Minimum wage
$17.13
an hour
A year, full time
$35,630
A month
$2,969
Rank
50 of 51
1 = lowest; +136% vs U.S.
StateMinimum wageRank
California$16.9048
Connecticut$16.9449
Washington$17.1350
District of Columbia$18.4051
U.S.$7.25-

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, State Minimum Wage Laws. Page shows 'Updated July 1, 2026'; cross-checked against DOL's Consolidated Minimum Wage Table (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/mw-consolidated, 'Effective Date: July 1, 2026'), which shows the same rates. Accessed 2026-10-24. Rates are the basic adult state rate; where a state has tiers, the standard/largest-employer rate is used. Exception: Florida rose to $15.00 on Sept 30, 2026, after the DOL update; that figure is from Lowndes law firm, 'Florida's Minimum Wage Reaches $15.00 on September 30, 2026' (Sept 2, 2026). Virginia's 2027 rate is from News From The States (Apr 9, 2026). Many cities and counties set higher local minimums, which are not shown here.

Common questions

What is the minimum wage in Washington?

$17.13 an hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor. Full time (2,080 hours) that is $35,630 a year before tax (our calculation). Adjusted annually by formula; higher in some cities

How does Washington's minimum wage compare?

Washington ranks 50 of 51 (1 = lowest). The federal minimum is $7.25 an hour.

See what any hourly wage pays after tax with the hourly to salary converter.

More for Washington: monthly budget · take-home pay · rent.