Washington cities increase minimum wage from July 1

On July 1, 2025, several cities in Washington implemented additional local increases that set the minimum wage well above the state rate, which is currently at US$16.66, as reported by USA today.

These adjustments were part of a broader wave of mid-year hikes across a number of states in the US, including Alaska and Oregon, as well as several cities.

Through these changes, more than 880,000 workers across all affected regions are expected to benefit, as reported by the Economic Policy Institute.

Washington Cities Where the New Rate Apply

Washington cities that implemented the new minimum wages and their rates are as follows:

• Burien: US$21.16 per hour for employers with 500 or more employees, and US$20.16 for those with 21-499 employees. Employers with 20 or fewer employees are not covered.
• Everett: US$20.24 per hour for employers with more than 500 employees in Washington, and US$18.24 for employers with 15-500 employees. Employers with 14 or fewer employees are exempt.
• Renton: US$19.90 per hour for employers with 15-500 employees, and US$20.90 for those with 501 or more employees. Smaller employers are exempt.
• Tukwila: US$21.10 per hour for employers with more than 500 employees, and US$20.10 for employers with 15-500 employees or more than US$2 million in annual gross revenue. Smaller employers under both thresholds are exempt.

There are also additional local jurisdictions in Washington with higher minimum wage rates than the state’s minimum wage.

Washington State Minimum Wage Background

Washington state enforces minimum wage changes on an annual basis, calculated by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).

New rates are announced on September 30 by L&I and take effect on January 1 of the next year.

The state’s minimum wage applies generally to most agricultural and non-agricultural jobs and covers all hours worked by the employee, including training, meetings, and opening or closing duties, with certain exceptions also applying.

The state’s current rate is more than double the federal minimum wage of US$7.25 per hour, keeping Washington among the states with the highest minimum wage in the nation.

Minimum Wage Trends in the US

In January 2025, 21 states and 48 localities raised their minimum wages, with a total of 88 jurisdictions across 23 states expected to implement new rates by the end of the year.

Additional minimum wage increases took effect in July in major cities including Chicago in Illinois, Los Angeles and San Francisco in California, as well as in several other municipalities and counties.

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