More Washington cities announce minimum wage rate increases – Technologist

The cities of Renton, Seattle, SeaTac, and Tukwila recently announced their new minimum wage rates that go into effect on January 1, 2025. Unincorporated King County has not yet announced its new minimum wage rate, but we will keep members informed when the new rate is released.

Renton minimum wage: The City of Renton’s new minimum wage rates are:

• Large employers (more than 500 employees worldwide including temporary agency employees and all franchisees associated with a franchisor or a network of franchisees that employ more than 500 employees in aggregate): $20.90 per hour, up from last year’s $20.29 per hour.
• Other covered employers (a covered employer who does not qualify as a large employer): $18.90 per hour, up from last year’s $18.29 per hour ($2.00 less than the minimum rate for large employers); beginning July 1, 2025, the hourly rate will be $19.90 per hour ($1.00 per hour less than the minimum rate for large employers).

Employers are also required to annually certify compliance with the chapter.

Seattle minimum wage: The City of Seattle’s new minimum wage rate is $20.76 per hour for all employers (up from $19.97 per hour for large employers and $17.25 per hour for small employers who took a credit for tips or medical benefits). Seattle’s minimum wage rate applies to all nonexempt employees for all hours they work within the city limits. With this increase, both large and small employers will now pay the same minimum wage rate, with small employers no longer allowed to apply a credit for tips or medical benefits.

Employers are required to provide a written notice to each employee working in Seattle before any change in their wage rate or other terms of employment. An explanation of this requirement and a sample notice can be found on Seattle’s wage theft ordinance webpage. If you will be adjusting wages to meet minimum wage increases, make sure you notify any affected workers. A new 2025 version of the required workplace poster can be found online.

SeaTac minimum wage: The City of SeaTac’s minimum wage, which covers certain transportation and hospitality employees working within the city, is $20.17 per hour (up from $19.71 per hour).

Tukwila minimum wage: The City of Tukwila’s new minimum wage rates covering most employees working within the city are:

• Large employers (more than 500 employees worldwide and all franchisees associated with a franchisor or a network of franchisees that employ more than 500 employees in aggregate): $21.10 per hour (up from $20.29 per hour).
• Mid-size employers (at least 15 employees worldwide or an annual gross revenue over $2 million generated within the city limits of Tukwila): $20.10 per hour for the first six months of 2025 (up from $19.29 per hour). Beginning July 1, 2025, the rate will increase again to $21.10 per hour.

Covered employers must distribute the Notice of Tukwila Labor Standards to employees and display the Tukwila Labor Standards workplace poster. Employees must receive the 2025 Notice of Tukwila Labor Standards no later than December 2, 2024. Covered employers must certify their compliance to the city by January 31, 2025.

Tips: The minimum wage rates in Bellingham, Burien, Renton, Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, and unincorporated King County continue to be higher than the Washington statewide rate (we previously reported on the new statewide minimum wage rate, and minimum wage rates for the cities of Bellingham and Burien). You must pay employees at the highest minimum wage rate that applies to them. While written notice of these pay increases isn’t required except for Burien, Seattle, and Tukwila employees, advance written notice is certainly a best practice for employee retention and morale. For more information on overtime exemptions in Washington, see our Legal Guide, State Laws on the White Collar Exemptions from Overtime.