Skip to content
NFIB Logo Join Now

State’s Minimum Wage Rate Rises to $16.28 an Hour Starting Jan. 1

State’s Minimum Wage Rate Rises to $16.28 an Hour Starting Jan. 1

October 3, 2023 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

State’s Minimum Wage Rate Rises to $16.28 an Hour Starting Jan. 1

Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries announced September 29 that the state’s minimum-wage rate will rise to $16.28 an hour beginning January 1, 2024. “Under state 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),” said L&I in this news release. “In making the calculation, L&I compares the CPI-W index from August of the previous year to August of the current year. In 2023, Washington has the highest state-level minimum wage in the nation. The federal minimum wage remains set at $7.25 an hour.” The department’s news release has more information on its calculation, the minimum wage for the young, and the rates for overtime exempt employees and for rideshare drivers. Cities are still free to set rates higher than the state’s.  
Get to know NFIB

NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.

Receive our newsletter and email notification
Knowledge is power. Let us help you stay informed with breaking legislative news, regulatory updates, business tips, and more.

Related Articles

Clothes on a rack at a Retail store
Related
July 27, 2026
Shop Small During New Mexico’s Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday
Certain back-to-school items will be exempt from sales tax from Friday, July 31-Sunday, August 2
Read More
NFIB podcast cover featuring 'Small Business Rundown' logo on left and Episode 91: 'State Tax Hikes Crush Small Business' on the right, with three host headshots labeled Greg, Patrick, and Anthony.
Related
July 27, 2026
Podcast: State Tax Hikes on the Ballot This Year
Experts on the Small Business Rundown discuss proposed state tax increases and the impact higher taxes would have on small businesses across the nation.
Read More
Cashier ringing up sales
Related
July 27, 2026
Northern Illinois Sales Taxes Increase August 1
The higher taxes in Northern Illinois are to fund the Chicago-area public-transit system
Read More
Clothes on a rack at a Retail store
Related
July 27, 2026
Arkansas’ Sales Tax Holiday Weekend Is an Opportunity to Shop Small
Certain items will be exempt from sales tax Saturday, August 1-Sunday, August 2
Read More

© 2001 - 2026 National Federation of Independent Business. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Accessibility