History of Washington State's Minimum Wage
These are the changes by year that have been made to the Washington State minimum wage since 1961.
Initiative 688, approved by Washington voters in 1998, required L&I to make a cost-of-living adjustment to the minimum wage each year between 2001 and 2016, based on the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
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. Starting in 2021, adjustments to the minimum wage returned to being based on the CPI-W.
In 2026, the minimum wage in Washington is $17.13 per hour.
Each year, L&I is required to make a cost-of-living adjustment to the minimum wage based on the CPI-W.
See the Minimum Wage page for more information and to find out why it changes.
History of Minimum Wage in Washington State
Effective date
Minimum wage per hour
January 1, 2026
$17.13
January 1, 2025
$16.66
January 1, 2024
$16.28
January 1, 2023
$15.74
January 1, 2022
$14.49
January 1, 2021
$13.69
January 1, 2020
$13.50
January 1, 2019
$12.00
January 1, 2018
$11.50
January 1, 2017
$11.00
January 1, 2016
$9.47
January 1, 2015
$9.47
January 1, 2014
$9.32
January 1, 2013
$9.19
January 1, 2012
$9.04
January 1, 2011
$8.67
January 1, 2010
$8.55
January 1, 2009
$8.55
January 1, 2008
$8.07
January 1, 2007
$7.93
January 1, 2006
$7.63
January 1, 2005
$7.35
January 1, 2004
$7.16
January 1, 2003
$7.01
January 1, 2002
$6.90
January 1, 2001
$6.72
January 1, 2000
$6.50
January 1, 1999
$5.70
September 1, 1997
$5.15 (Federal minimum wage change)
January 1, 1994
$4.90
January 1, 1990
$4.25
January 1, 1989
$3.85
January 1, 1976
$2.30
September 1, 1975
$2.00
January 1, 1974
$1.80
January 1, 1968
$1.60
January 1, 1962
$1.25
June 30, 1961
$1.15
Workplace Rights
Employment Standards Program
Email: ESgeneral@Lni.wa.gov Toll-free: 1-866-219-7321 Phone: 360-902-5316 Fax: 360-902-5300
Mailing address
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Employment Standards Program PO Box 44510 Olympia WA 98504-4510