These are the changes by year that have been made to the Washington State minimum wage since 1961.
Initiative 688, approved by Washington voters in 1998, required L&I to make a cost-of-living adjustment to the minimum wage each year between 2001 and 2016, based on the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
Initiative 1433, approved by Washington voters in 2016, requires a statewide minimum wage of $11.00 in 2017, $11.50 in 2018, $12.00 in 2019, and $13.50 in 2020.
In 2024, the minimum wage in Washington is $16.28 per hour.
Each year, L&I is required to make a cost-of-living adjustment to the minimum wage based on the CPI-W.
See the Minimum Wage page for more information and to find out why it changes.
History of Minimum Wage in Washington State
| Effective date | Minimum wage per hour |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2024 | $16.28 |
| January 1, 2023 | $15.74 |
| January 1, 2022 | $14.49 |
| January 1, 2021 | $13.69 |
| January 1, 2020 | $13.50 |
| January 1, 2019 | $12.00 |
| January 1, 2018 | $11.50 |
| January 1, 2017 | $11.00 |
| January 1, 2016 | $9.47 |
| January 1, 2015 | $9.47 |
| January 1, 2014 | $9.32 |
| January 1, 2013 | $9.19 |
| January 1, 2012 | $9.04 |
| January 1, 2011 | $8.67 |
| January 1, 2010 | $8.55 |
| January 1, 2009 | $8.55 |
| January 1, 2008 | $8.07 |
| January 1, 2007 | $7.93 |
| January 1, 2006 | $7.63 |
| January 1, 2005 | $7.35 |
| January 1, 2004 | $7.16 |
| January 1, 2003 | $7.01 |
| January 1, 2002 | $6.90 |
| January 1, 2001 | $6.72 |
| January 1, 2000 | $6.50 |
| January 1, 1999 | $5.70 |
| September 1, 1997 | $5.15 (Federal minimum wage change) |
| January 1, 1994 | $4.90 |
| January 1, 1990 | $4.25 |
| January 1, 1989 | $3.85 |
| January 1, 1976 | $2.30 |
| September 1, 1975 | $2.00 |
| January 1, 1974 | $1.80 |
| January 1, 1968 | $1.60 |
| January 1, 1962 | $1.25 |
| June 30, 1961 | $1.15 |