TUMBWATER Wash. – Washington state’s minimum wage will rise to $16.66 per hour in 2025, according to an announcement by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.
This marks a 2.35% increase from the current rate of $16.28 per hour, the highest state-level minimum wage in the U.S. The new wage will take effect on January 1, 2025.
The increase is calculated based on data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, reflecting rising costs in housing and food. While Washington cities are allowed to set their own minimum wages above the state level, the statewide minimum remains among the highest.
For comparison, Oregon’s minimum wage is $14.70 per hour, with a higher rate of $15.95 in the Portland metro area. The federal minimum wage, meanwhile, remains at $7.25 per hour and has not changed since 2009.