2019 Washington Minimum Wage
The 2019 Washington Minimum Wage is $12.
Effective 2019-01-01Source: History of Washington State's Minimum Wage (Washington State Department of Labor & Industries)Verified 2026-08-29
Compared with 2018
| Item | 2018 | 2019 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $11.50 | $12 | +$0.50 (+4.3%) |
Who it applies to
All employers and employees covered by Washington State's minimum wage law
What changed this year, and why
Washington State's minimum wage increased to $12.00 per hour on January 1, 2019, up from $11.50 per hour in 2018.
Common questions
- What was the minimum wage in Washington in 2019?
- The minimum wage in Washington was $12.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2019.
- How did the 2019 minimum wage compare to 2018?
- The 2019 minimum wage was higher than the 2018 rate of $11.50 per hour.
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Each year, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is required to make a cost-of-living adjustment to the minimum wage based on the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers). This annual adjustment ensures that the minimum wage keeps pace with inflation by measuring changes in the cost of living for urban workers. L&I calculates the adjustment using the CPI-W index and announces the new rate before it takes effect each January 1. For example, in 2019 the minimum wage was $12 per hour. The adjustment is automatic and mandatory under state law, meaning the minimum wage does not require new legislation each year to increase. Workers and employers can check the updated rate on the state's Minimum Wage page before each effective date.
Each year, L&I is required to make a cost-of-living adjustment to the minimum wage based on the CPI-W.
History of Washington State's Minimum Wage (Washington State Department of Labor & Industries)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
History of Washington State's Minimum Wage (Washington State Department of Labor & Industries)
- Hourly
Initiative 1433, approved by Washington voters in 2016, requires a statewide minimum wage of $11.00 in 2017, $11.50 in 2018, $12.00 in 2019, and $13.50 in 2020.
Other years
Every Washington Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state