Effective January 1, 2026, Washington will raise both the statewide minimum wage and the salary floor for overtime-exempt employees. The state minimum wage increases 2.8% to $17.13/hour; several jurisdictions (including Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Renton, Bellingham, Everett, Burien, and unincorporated King County) may require higher local rates. Because the exempt threshold is tied to a multiplier of the minimum wage, the 2026 salary floor for executive, administrative, professional, and certain computer employees will be 2.25× the state minimum, or $1,541.70 per week ($80,168.40 per year). The phase-in continues through 2028, when the multiplier reaches 2.5×. For computer professionals using the hourly option, the minimum will be $59.96/hour. Youth ages 14–15 may be paid 85% of the minimum wage ($14.56/hour). Washington also updates non-compete enforceability thresholds to $126,858.83 for employees and $317,147.09 for independent contractors.
Read more, including 2026 rideshare driver minimum-pay tables, non-compete pay thresholds, and how L&I figures the yearly increase using inflation (CPI-W)—on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website.
If you have questions about how these changes affect your organization, please reach out to any member of Ryan Swanson’s Employment Group.
