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BY STEVE COOGAN
MyNorthwest Lead Editor
The state of Washington’s minimum wage will rise to $16.28 per hour in 2024, a 3.4% increase over 2023’s $15.74 an hour, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced Friday. It takes effect Jan. 1.
Washington has the highest state-level minimum wage in the nation, L&I reported. Numbers from the U.S. Department of Labor (L&I) confirm Washington having the highest statewide minimum wage, but the city of Washington D.C. is higher as it currently is $16.50. The federal minimum wage remains $7.25 an hour.
Under Washington law, L&I calculates the minimum wage for the coming year based on the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). In making the calculation, L&I compares the CPI-W index from August of the previous year to August of the current year. The federal August numbers can be found here.
The state minimum wage applies to workers age 16 and older. Under state law, employers can pay 85% of the minimum wage to workers ages 14-15. For 2024, the wage for that younger group will be $13.84 per hour, L&I reported.
Cities can set minimum wages higher than the state. Seattle ($19.97 in 2024), Tukwila ($18.99) and SeaTac ($19.06) all have higher wages for large employers (more than 500 workers).
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