King County (unincorporated) minimum wage
Minimum wage in King County (unincorporated), Washington, in effect since January 1, 2026
$20.82 an hour
King County (unincorporated) sets its own minimum wage, $3.69 above the Washington rate of $17.13. Employers in King County (unincorporated) pay the higher local rate.
The rate differs by employer type; see the table below.
Next increase: $21.57 on January 1, 2027.
Rates by employer
| Employer or category | Hourly minimum | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| 500 or more employees | $20.82 | $20.82 |
| More than 15 but fewer than 500 employees (any revenue) | $19.82 | $19.82 |
| 15 or fewer employees with annual gross revenue of $2 million or more | $19.82 | $19.82 |
| 15 or fewer employees with annual gross revenue under $2 million | $18.32 | $18.32 |
Tipped employees
King County (unincorporated) doesn't allow a tip credit. Tipped employees must get the full $20.82 an hour from the employer, and tips are on top.
Scheduled increases
| Effective date | Standard rate | Tipped cash wage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $20.82 | $20.82 | In effect |
| January 1, 2027 | $21.57 | $21.57 | Announced Only one exception in 2027: employers with 15 or fewer employees and under $2 million annual gross revenue may pay $19.57. |
How future increases are set
Adjusted every January 1.
Exceptions and details
- Applies only to work done in unincorporated King County (King County Ordinance 19762).
- Employee count = average employed over the past 12 months, wherever they worked; revenue = total worldwide gross revenue.
- Washington law does not allow a tip credit; tips are paid on top of the minimum wage.
Other local minimum wages in Washington
Running payroll in King County (unincorporated)?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- King County Department of Local Services · data as of January 1, 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.