Washington's statewide minimum wage under RCW 49.46.020 is $16.66 per hour in 2026 with annual inflation adjustments; cities including Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Renton set higher local floors under their own ordinances.
Washington sets a statewide minimum wage under RCW 49.46.020, originally adopted by Initiative 688 in 1998 and raised by Initiative 1433 in 2016. The Department of Labor and Industries adjusts the wage each January based on the Consumer Price Index, reaching $16.66 per hour in 2026. Washington does not preempt cities from adopting higher floors, unlike many states. Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Renton set higher minimum wages by ordinance or initiative. Unincorporated King County uses the state minimum wage and has no separate local floor.
Paying below the applicable state or local minimum wage can trigger back pay, interest, double damages, and civil penalties under chapter 49.46 RCW, plus separate enforcement by city labor standards offices.
See how Auburn's minimum wage preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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