Minimum wage by state · Washington
Minimum Wage in Washington (2026)
In 2026, the minimum wage in Washington is $17.13 an hour — about $35,630.4 a year full-time, and the 2nd-highest of the 51 states and DC. Here's what that wage works out to in real terms and how it stacks up against the federal floor and the highest-paying state.
- Washington minimum wage $17.13/hr effective 2026 rate
- Full-time a year $35,630.4 40 hrs/wk, 52 wks
- vs federal $7.25 +$9.88 above federal $7.25
Minimum wage in Washington
The 2026 minimum wage in Washington is $17.13 an hour. That is $9.88 (about 136%) above the federal minimum of $7.25. Because the effective minimum is always the higher of the state or federal rate, workers here are entitled to the state's $17.13 — well clear of the $7.25 federal floor.
$17.13 an hour, in real terms
An hourly figure is abstract until you scale it up. Here is what $17.13 an hour becomes over a week and a full year of full-time work:
Full-time at $17.13 an hour — 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year — works out to about $35,630.4 a year before taxes. That is roughly $20,550 more than the $15,080 a full-time job at the $7.25 federal minimum would pay, and about $2,642 less than the $38,272 earned at District of Columbia's nation-leading $18.4. To see what actually lands in a paycheck after tax, run the numbers with the take-home pay calculator.
How Washington compares
Among all 51 states and DC, Washington's $17.13 is the 2nd-highest of the 51 states and DC. The federal minimum is $7.25, and the highest anywhere is District of Columbia at $18.4, about $1.27 above Washington. Washington is one of the 31 states and DC that pay above the federal floor. For the full picture — every state ranked, the highest and lowest, and how the map has shifted — see minimum wage by state. You can also compare any two states with the minimum wage by state calculator.
Minimum wage in Washington — FAQ
What is the minimum wage in Washington in 2026?
The 2026 minimum wage in Washington is $17.13 per hour. That is $9.88 (about 136%) above the federal minimum of $7.25. Because the effective minimum is always the higher of the state or federal rate, no employer covered by the law may pay less.
How much is minimum wage a year in Washington?
At $17.13 an hour, full-time work (40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year) comes to about $35,630.4 a year before taxes, roughly $20,550 more than the $15,080 a full-time federal-minimum job pays. Use the take-home pay calculator to see what lands in your pocket after tax.
Is Washington's minimum wage above the federal minimum?
Yes. At $17.13, Washington sits $9.88 (about 136%) above the $7.25 federal minimum. It is one of the 31 states and DC that pay above the federal floor.
How does Washington's minimum wage rank nationally?
Among all 51 states and DC, Washington's $17.13 is the 2nd-highest of the 51 states and DC. The highest is District of Columbia at $18.4; the federal floor is $7.25.
Data: U.S. Department of Labor, via APIVerve. Our tables, charts and text are licensed CC BY 4.0: reuse them freely, including commercially, as long as you credit us. Cite as: Digest Your Finances, “Minimum Wage by State”, https://digestyourfinances.com/studies/minimum-wage-by-state/washington/ — based on U.S. Department of Labor. CC BY 4.0.
