Seattle minimum wage
Minimum wage in Seattle, Washington, in effect since January 1, 2026
$21.30 an hour
Seattle sets its own minimum wage, $4.17 above the Washington rate of $17.13. Employers in Seattle pay the higher local rate.
Next increase: $22.14 on January 1, 2027.
Standard rate
$21.30
since January 1, 2026
Tipped cash wage
$21.30
No tip credit allowed
Next change
$22.14
January 1, 2027
Federal minimum
$7.25
unchanged since 2009
Tipped employees
Seattle doesn't allow a tip credit. Tipped employees must get the full $21.30 an hour from the employer, and tips are on top.
Scheduled increases
| Effective date | Standard rate | Tipped cash wage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $21.30 | $21.30 | In effect |
| January 1, 2027 | $22.14 | $22.14 | Announced |
How future increases are set
Adjusted each January 1 by the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-W.
Exceptions and details
- One rate for all employers regardless of size since January 1, 2025; small employers can no longer count tips or medical-benefit payments toward the minimum.
- Seattle Municipal Code 14.19.
Other local minimum wages in Washington
- Bellingham $19.13
- Burien $21.78
- Everett $20.77
- King County (unincorporated) $20.82
- Renton $21.57
- SeaTac $20.74
- Tukwila $21.65
Running payroll in Seattle?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- Seattle Office of Labor Standards · 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.