SeaTac minimum wage
Minimum wage in SeaTac, Washington, in effect since January 1, 2026
$20.74 an hour
SeaTac sets its own minimum wage, $3.61 above the Washington rate of $17.13. Employers in SeaTac pay the higher local rate.
The rate differs by employer; see the table below.
Next increase: $21.47 on January 1, 2027.
Rates by employer
| Employer or category | Hourly minimum | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitality and transportation industry employers only (SeaTac Municipal Code 7.45) All other SeaTac employers pay the Washington state minimum wage. | $20.74 | $20.74 |
Tipped employees
SeaTac doesn't allow a tip credit. Tipped employees must get the full $20.74 an hour from the employer, and tips are on top.
Scheduled increases
| Effective date | Standard rate | Tipped cash wage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $20.74 | $20.74 | In effect |
| January 1, 2027 | $21.47 | $21.47 | Announced Hospitality and transportation employees only. City of SeaTac "Minimum Wage 2027 Notice" dated October 8, 2026 (+3.52%, CPI-W). |
How future increases are set
Adjusted each January 1 by CPI-W for the 12 months before September 1; the City Manager publishes the rate by October 15.
Exceptions and details
- INDUSTRY-ONLY WAGE: SeaTac's rate applies only to covered hospitality and transportation industry employers (2013 Proposition 1, in effect January 1, 2014), including at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It is not a citywide minimum.
- The Washington Supreme Court upheld enforcement at the airport (Filo Foods v. City of SeaTac, August 20, 2015).
- Tips, gratuities, service charges and commissions may not be credited toward the wage.
Other local minimum wages in Washington
- Bellingham $19.13
- Burien $21.78
- Everett $20.77
- King County (unincorporated) $20.82
- Renton $21.57
- Seattle $21.30
- Tukwila $21.65
Running payroll in SeaTac?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (local rates page); City of SeaTac (2027 notice) · 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.