The Washington State minimum wage for 2023 will increase to $15.74 an hour in January. That’s up $1.25 from what it is now.
The 8.66 percent rise is directly linked to the cost of common goods such as housing, food, and medical care as reflected in the Consumer Price Index.
State law directs the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries to calculate the minimum wage for the coming year based on the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. In making the calculation, L&I compares the index from August of the previous year to the index for August of the current year.
The state minimum wage applies to workers age 16 and older. Under state law, employers can pay 85 percent of the minimum wage to workers ages 14-15. For 2023, the wage for that younger group will be $13.38 per hour.
Cities can set minimum wages higher than the state. Seattle and SeaTac both have higher wages.
