Burien minimum wage
Minimum wage in Burien, Washington, in effect since January 1, 2026
$21.78 an hour
Burien sets its own minimum wage, $4.65 above the Washington rate of $17.13. Employers in Burien pay the higher local rate.
The rate differs by employer type; see the table below.
Next increase: none announced as of October 9, 2026. Large-employer rate rises each January 1 by the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-W (12 months ending August); the city publishes the next rate by October 15.
Rates by employer
| Employer or category | Hourly minimum | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Large employers (501 or more employees) | $21.78 | $21.78 |
| Medium employers (16 to 500 employees) | $20.78 | $20.78 |
| Small employers (15 or fewer employees) | $19.28 | $19.28 |
Tipped employees
Burien doesn't allow a tip credit. Tipped employees must get the full $21.78 an hour from the employer, and tips are on top.
How future increases are set
Large-employer rate rises each January 1 by the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-W (12 months ending August); the city publishes the next rate by October 15.
Exceptions and details
- The 2026 rates were adjusted on June 4, 2026 to the 2025 rate plus CPI under BMC 5.16 (voter initiative). The council repealed the earlier BMC 5.15 effective May 27, 2026, leaving BMC 5.16 as the only Burien minimum wage law.
- 2027 rules per the city: medium employers equal the large-employer rate; small employers pay the large-employer rate minus $2.00. The 2027 dollar figures are not yet published.
- Franchisees in networks with more than 500 employees in aggregate count as large employers; 16 to 500 count as medium.
- Tips and service charges may not count toward the minimum wage.
Other local minimum wages in Washington
- Bellingham $19.13
- Everett $20.77
- King County (unincorporated) $20.82
- Renton $21.57
- SeaTac $20.74
- Seattle $21.30
- Tukwila $21.65
Running payroll in Burien?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- City of Burien · data as of June 4, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.