(The Center Square) – Several new laws that go into effect in the new year look to impact Washingtonians’ wallets in one way or another. Either directly or indirectly, Evergreen State residents in 2023 could end up paying more on a variety of fronts.
MINIMUM WAGE
Washington will start off the new year with the highest minimum wage among U.S. states.
Starting Jan. 1, the hourly wage floor employers must pay adult workers will rise to $15.74, up from $14.49 in 2022, according to the state Department of Labor & Industries.
The roughly 8.7% increase in the state minimum wage comes amid the largest spike in inflation in nearly four decades, increasing the cost of food, housing, and other items across Washington.
The Evergreen State’s minimum wage may be top among states, but it’s not the highest in the nation. The other Washington – D.C. – will see its minimum wage rise to $16.50 an hour next year.
Some cities in Washington have separate minimum wage laws allowing for hourly rates in excess of the state’s baseline. SeaTac will have the highest minimum wage of any city in America in 2023, rising to $19.06 an hour. Seattle’s minimum wage next year will be upped to $18.69.
PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE
Beginning Jan. 1, the Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll tax will go up from 0.6% to 0.8% to help pay for up to 18 weeks of family and medical leave to some full- and part-time workers. The rate is determined by the ratio of the trust fund balance divided by the total wages...
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