SeaTac Minimum Wage 2026 and 2027
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in SeaTac is $20.74 per hour for hospitality and transportation industry employers, in effect since January 1, 2026. It is set by the local ordinance and is $3.61 above the Washington statewide minimum of $17.13 and $13.49 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Rates and sources checked October 30, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Current rate (October 30, 2026)
$20.74
In effect since January 1, 2026
2027 status: Scheduled
$21.47
Effective January 1, 2027
Compared with Washington
$3.61 higher
Washington statewide rate $17.13; federal $7.25
SeaTac minimum wage rates
| Group | Rate on October 30, 2026 | Since | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality and transportation industry employers | $20.74 | January 1, 2026 | $21.47 |
Set by SeaTac Municipal Code Chapter 7.45 (Minimum Employment Standards for Hospitality and Transportation Industry Employers). Administered by the City of SeaTac, City Manager.
SeaTac minimum wage in 2027: Scheduled
The city announced $21.47 per hour on October 8, 2026, effective January 1, 2027, a 3.52 percent increase calculated from the CPI-W for the twelve months before September 1.
Each year the City Manager publishes a bulletin by October 15 with a rate that rises by the CPI-W change for the twelve months before September 1, effective the next January 1. The notice says the Washington Department of Labor and Industries declaration each September 30 of the state increase is the authoritative determination of the rate of increase to be applied.
Tipped workers
Tips do not count. SeaTac says tips, gratuities, service charges and commissions may not be credited as any part of the required wage, and Washington State does not allow tip crediting either: L&I says tips are in addition to, and not a part of, an employee's state hourly minimum wage.
Who is covered
SeaTac's rate is not a general city minimum wage. It is set by the city's Minimum Employment Standards Ordinance for Hospitality and Transportation Industry Employers, and the Washington Department of Labor and Industries lists it as $20.74 for employers in hospitality and transportation industries in 2026. The L&I local rates page lists SeaTac only for those industries.
Each hospitality employer and transportation employer must give each worker written notice of the adjustment and make the payroll changes by January 1 after the city publishes its bulletin.
Tiers and exceptions
- Which employers and workers count as hospitality or transportation employees, and any size or hours thresholds, are defined in SeaTac Municipal Code Chapter 7.45. This page does not summarize that ordinance text, so check the definitions with the city before relying on this rate for a specific job.
- The Washington State minimum wage is $17.13 in 2026 and L&I lists no separate SeaTac rate for other industries. Washington's tip rule applies to all employers.
SeaTac compared with Washington and the federal minimum
| Minimum wage | October 30, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| SeaTac | $20.74 | $21.47 |
| Washington (statewide) | $17.13 | $17.73 |
| Federal | $7.25 | $7.25 |
Employers must pay the highest rate that applies. See the Washington minimum wage page for the statewide rules.
SeaTac rate history
| Effective | Hospitality and transportation industry employers |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | $20.74 |
| January 1, 2027 (scheduled) | $21.47 |
SeaTac minimum wage pay calculator
| Gross pay | SeaTac ($20.74) | Washington ($17.13) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly pay | $829.60 | $685.20 | $144.40 |
| Yearly pay | $43,139.20 | $35,630.40 | $7,508.80 |
Gross pay before taxes, paid straight time for every hour entered. The SeaTac rate is the general rate for the group named above; tipped, youth and other groups follow the rules listed on this page.
What the official sources say
“Tips, gratuities, service charges and commissions shall not be credited as being any part of or be offset against the wage rates required by this chapter.”
“SMC 7.45.050 provides that the City Manager shall publish a bulletin, by October 15 of each year, announcing the adjusted living wage rates in effect for Hospitality and Transportation Employees within the City.”
““Tip crediting” isn’t allowed. Tips are in addition to, and not a part of, an employee’s state hourly minimum wage.”
“SeaTac: $20.74/hour for employers in hospitality and transportation industries.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in SeaTac in 2026?
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in SeaTac is $20.74 per hour for hospitality and transportation industry employers, in effect since January 1, 2026. It is set by SeaTac Municipal Code Chapter 7.45 (Minimum Employment Standards for Hospitality and Transportation Industry Employers) and administered by the City of SeaTac, City Manager.
Will the SeaTac minimum wage go up in 2027?
The city announced $21.47 per hour on October 8, 2026, effective January 1, 2027, a 3.52 percent increase calculated from the CPI-W for the twelve months before September 1.
How does the SeaTac minimum wage compare with the Washington and federal minimums?
The Washington statewide minimum is $17.13, so SeaTac is $3.61 higher. The federal minimum is $7.25. An employer must pay the highest rate that applies.
Who is covered by the SeaTac minimum wage?
SeaTac's rate is not a general city minimum wage. It is set by the city's Minimum Employment Standards Ordinance for Hospitality and Transportation Industry Employers, and the Washington Department of Labor and Industries lists it as $20.74 for employers in hospitality and transportation industries in 2026. The L&I local rates page lists SeaTac only for those industries. Each hospitality employer and transportation employer must give each worker written notice of the adjustment and make the payroll changes by January 1 after the city publishes its bulletin.
What is the tipped minimum wage in SeaTac?
Tips do not count. SeaTac says tips, gratuities, service charges and commissions may not be credited as any part of the required wage, and Washington State does not allow tip crediting either: L&I says tips are in addition to, and not a part of, an employee's state hourly minimum wage.
Are there different rates or exceptions in SeaTac?
Which employers and workers count as hospitality or transportation employees, and any size or hours thresholds, are defined in SeaTac Municipal Code Chapter 7.45. This page does not summarize that ordinance text, so check the definitions with the city before relying on this rate for a specific job.
Sources for SeaTac
- City of SeaTac: 2027 Minimum Wage notice (October 8, 2026)
- City of SeaTac: 2026 Minimum Wage notice (October 1, 2025)
- Washington L&I: Local Minimum Wage Rates
- Washington L&I: Tips and Service Charges
Sources checked October 30, 2026.
The two city notices are PDFs with overlapping text layers; the sentences used here were put back in reading order for the saved copies.
Verification note: The SeaTac ordinance text (Chapter 7.45) could not be read from the city site, so this page does not list which employers and workers are covered or any exemptions; the rates and dates come from the city notices.