Seattle Minimum Wage 2026 and 2027
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in Seattle is $21.30 per hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. It is set by the local ordinance and is $4.17 above the Washington statewide minimum of $17.13 and $14.05 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)
$21.30
In effect since January 1, 2026
2027 status: Scheduled
$22.14
Effective January 1, 2027
Compared with Washington
$4.17 higher
Washington statewide rate $17.13; federal $7.25
Seattle minimum wage rates
| Group | Rate on October 30, 2026 | Since | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All employers | $21.30 | January 1, 2026 | $22.14 |
Set by Seattle Municipal Code 14.19 (Minimum Wage Ordinance) and SHRR Chapter 90. Administered by the Seattle Office of Labor Standards.
Seattle minimum wage in 2027: Scheduled
The Office of Labor Standards lists the 2027 minimum wage as $22.14 per hour for all employers, effective January 1, 2027. It says the rate rises every year on January 1 with the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
The rate rises every January 1 with the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue CPI-W.
Tipped workers
Tips do not count toward Seattle's minimum wage. The fact sheet says employers cannot make up any part of the minimum wage with payments toward medical benefits or with customer tips. Until December 31, 2024, small employers could count tips and medical payments toward a higher minimum compensation, as the history table below shows.
Who is covered
Seattle's ordinance covers employees working inside Seattle city limits, regardless of immigration status or the location of the employer. It applies to hours worked within Seattle, not to hours worked outside the city.
Employees based outside Seattle who work in the city only occasionally are covered after working more than two hours within Seattle city limits during a two-week period. Once they reach that threshold, all hours worked in Seattle are covered for that pay period.
Independent contractors are not covered by the Minimum Wage Ordinance, although domestic workers have separate protection.
Tiers and exceptions
- Workers under 16 can earn 85% of the Seattle minimum wage; workers aged 16 and 17 earn the same rate as adults. Our calculation: $18.11 at the 2026 rate of $21.30 and $18.82 at the 2027 rate of $22.14. Seattle's Questions and Answers document lists $18.20 for 2027, so confirm the amount with the Office of Labor Standards.
- Student learners, apprentices and messengers with a state and Seattle Special Certificate may be paid a subminimum wage, and employers may not pay a subminimum wage to employees with a disability.
- The tiers by employer size ended on December 31, 2024. Since January 1, 2025 all employers pay the same rate regardless of size.
| Year | Large employers (501 or more employees) | Small employers: wage when tips or medical payments count | Small employers: minimum compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $16.69 | $15.00 | $16.69 |
| 2022 | $17.27 | $15.75 | $17.27 |
| 2023 | $18.69 | $16.50 | $18.69 |
| 2024 | $19.97 | $17.25 | $19.97 |
Seattle rates by employer size, 2021 to 2024 (ended December 31, 2024). The Office of Labor Standards keeps this history for records. A small employer employed 500 or fewer employees worldwide.
Seattle compared with Washington and the federal minimum
| Minimum wage | October 30, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $21.30 | $22.14 |
| 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.
Seattle rate history
| Effective | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | $21.30 | All employers |
| 2025 | $20.76 | All employers |
| 2024 | $19.97 | Large employers (through 2024) |
| 2023 | $18.69 | Large employers (through 2024) |
| 2022 | $17.27 | Large employers (through 2024) |
| 2021 | $16.69 | Large employers (through 2024) |
| January 1, 2027 (scheduled) | $22.14 |
Seattle minimum wage pay calculator
| Gross pay | Seattle ($21.30) | Washington ($17.13) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly pay | $852.00 | $685.20 | $166.80 |
| Yearly pay | $44,304.00 | $35,630.40 | $8,673.60 |
Gross pay before taxes, paid straight time for every hour entered. The Seattle 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
“All employers must pay at least this minimum wage, regardless of the employer’s size. Employers cannot make up any part of the minimum wage with payments toward an employee’s medical benefits or with customer tips.”
“Employees who work in Seattle on an occasional basis are covered by the Seattle minimum wage after working more than two hours within Seattle city limits during a two-week period.”
“Employees who are under 16 years old can earn 85% of the hourly rate required by the Seattle minimum wage ordinance.”
“Since January 1, 2025, tips can no longer be counted towards minimum compensation.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Seattle in 2026?
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in Seattle is $21.30 per hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. It is set by Seattle Municipal Code 14.19 (Minimum Wage Ordinance) and SHRR Chapter 90 and administered by the Seattle Office of Labor Standards.
Will the Seattle minimum wage go up in 2027?
The Office of Labor Standards lists the 2027 minimum wage as $22.14 per hour for all employers, effective January 1, 2027. It says the rate rises every year on January 1 with the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
How does the Seattle minimum wage compare with the Washington and federal minimums?
The Washington statewide minimum is $17.13, so Seattle is $4.17 higher. The federal minimum is $7.25. An employer must pay the highest rate that applies.
Who is covered by the Seattle minimum wage?
Seattle's ordinance covers employees working inside Seattle city limits, regardless of immigration status or the location of the employer. It applies to hours worked within Seattle, not to hours worked outside the city. Employees based outside Seattle who work in the city only occasionally are covered after working more than two hours within Seattle city limits during a two-week period. Once they reach that threshold, all hours worked in Seattle are covered for that pay period. Independent contractors are not covered by the Minimum Wage Ordinance, although domestic workers have separate protection.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Seattle?
Tips do not count toward Seattle's minimum wage. The fact sheet says employers cannot make up any part of the minimum wage with payments toward medical benefits or with customer tips. Until December 31, 2024, small employers could count tips and medical payments toward a higher minimum compensation, as the history table below shows.
Are there different rates or exceptions in Seattle?
Workers under 16 can earn 85% of the Seattle minimum wage; workers aged 16 and 17 earn the same rate as adults. Our calculation: $18.11 at the 2026 rate of $21.30 and $18.82 at the 2027 rate of $22.14. Seattle's Questions and Answers document lists $18.20 for 2027, so confirm the amount with the Office of Labor Standards.
Did Seattle ever have different rates by employer size?
The tiers by employer size ended on December 31, 2024. Since January 1, 2025 all employers pay the same rate regardless of size. The Office of Labor Standards keeps this history for records. A small employer employed 500 or fewer employees worldwide.
Sources for Seattle
- Seattle Office of Labor Standards: Minimum Wage
- Seattle OLS: 2026 Minimum Wage Fact Sheet
- Seattle OLS: Minimum Wage Ordinance Questions and Answers
Sources checked October 30, 2026.
Rates before 2025 are the large-employer rates from the Questions and Answers document; the source gives the year and not the day, and the ordinance raises the rate every January 1.