Washington Minimum Wage 2026
Washington's minimum wage of $20.74 in 2026 is among the highest in the United States, and it is significantly higher than than the base federal minimum wage of $7.25 still used in 20 states.
Federal 
Washington Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the weekly minimum wage in Washington is $829.60. For full-time employees working 52 weeks per year, the annual minimum wage in Washington is $43.1K.
Based on $20.74/hr minimum
Based on $20.74/hr minimum
The minimum wage rate of Washington and its neighboring states ranges from $7.25 to $20.74, with an average of $14.54. Washington, at $20.74, has the highest hourly minimum wage within this group of states. Hawaii ($16), Oregon ($14.70), Alaska ($14), and Idaho ($7.25) have lower hourly rates than Washington.
Washington While the general minimum wage is $20.74 per hour in Washington, there are exceptions where workers may legally receive less than this amount:
Employees aged 14 or 15 are paid at 85% of the minimum wage, or $14.56 per hour.
These groups are exempt from state minimum wage legislation at the discretion of the Director of Washington Department of Labor and Industries.
Workers employed primarily in delivering letters and messages are exempt from state minimum wage legislation at the discretion of the Director of Washington Department of Labor and Industries.
A few cities in Washington have specific minimum wage exceptions as well:
Washington's cost of living index for 2025 is 114.1, which places it as the 9th most expensive state to live in the United States.
National 100
Washington 114.1
Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the real wage in Washington, adjusted for the state’s cost of living index of 114.1, is approximately $18.18 per hour. This means that while the nominal minimum wage is $20.74 per hour, the purchasing power of those earnings is lower due to Washington's higher cost of living expenses. For full-time employees, the real weekly earnings amount to roughly $727.08, translating to an annual purchasing power of $37,808.24 when working 52 weeks per year.
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According to the most recent data, the median household income in the United States has seen a significant increase in 2023.
Washington’s minimum wage is the highest in the United States and is automatically adjusted each year based on inflation using the Consumer Price Index, as required by state law enacted through Initiative 1433 (2016). The state mandates annual increases to preserve purchasing power, and local jurisdictions such as Seattle may set higher minimum wages than the state level.
