What is the WA state minimum wage?

The minimum wage in Washington State has undergone significant changes since the passage of Initiative 1433 in 2016, which was approved by voters to gradually increase the minimum wage over several years. Initially, the minimum wage was set at $11.00 per hour in 2017, with incremental increases to $11.50 in 2018, $12.00 in 2019, and $13.50 in 2020. Beginning in 2021, the minimum wage adjustments shifted to be based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), allowing for annual increases that reflect inflation and cost of living changes. As a result, by 2025, the minimum wage in Washington is projected to reach $16.66 per hour. This progressive approach to minimum wage legislation aims to ensure that workers can maintain a living wage in the face of rising living costs, thereby supporting economic stability and improving the quality of life for residents across the state.