Minimum Wage
Ordinance: SMC 14.19 Rules: SHRR Chapter 90
Seattle's Minimum Wage Ordinance went into effect on April 1, 2015.
The Minimum Wage Ordinance sets the minimum wage for employees working within city limits. The minimum wage increases every year on January 1.
Seattle’s Minimum Wage starting January 1, 2025:
Starting January 1, 2025, all employers, regardless of schedule size, will be required to pay the same minimum wage. Small employers will no longer be able to count tip and/or payments toward an employee’s medical benefit plan toward an employee's minimum compensation requirements under Seattle’s Minimum Wage Ordinance.
The minimum wage for the 2025 calendar year is set forth in the table below:
2025 Minimum Wage |
$20.76 |
OLS announces the upcoming year’s minimum wage increase by the Fall of each year. The minimum wage will increase to reflect the rate of inflation, based on the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Area Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
2024 Minimum Wage
For Large Employers (501 or more employees)
$19.97/hour |
For Small Employers (500 or fewer employees)
Does employer pay $2.72/hour toward medical benefits and/or does employee earn $2.72/hour in tips?
No | Yes |
$19.97/hour | $17.25/hour |