Washington state is a national pioneer in raising the minimum wage for workers. Starting January 1, 2024, the state minimum wage will be increased to $16.28 per hour for employees 16 and older, and $13.84 per hour for those 14 to 15. This is a 3.4% increase from the current rate of $15.74 per hour. The adjustment is intended to alleviate income disparity and guarantee that workers can achieve their fundamental necessities.
However, some local governments in Washington have greater minimum wage rates and different labor laws than the state. These include SeaTac, Seattle, and Tukwila, which will compel firms to pay even higher wages for some workers by 2024. In this post, we’ll look at the specifics of these municipal minimum wage regulations and how they affect workers and companies in Washington.
SeaTac
SeaTac, a city in King County, is home to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Since 2014, SeaTac has enforced a minimum wage rule for the city’s hospitality and transportation workers. Hotel personnel, airport workers, parking lot attendants, and vehicle rental employees are among those affected.
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In 2024, SeaTac’s minimum pay for these workers will rise to $19.71 per hour, up from $19.03 in 2023. This is the highest minimum wage rate in the state and one of the highest in the nation. Employers must also give these employees paid sick leave, tip protection, and retention rights, according to the ordinance.
Seattle
Seattle is Washington’s biggest city and the capital of King County. Seattle has had a minimum wage rule in place since 2015, affecting all workers in the city, regardless of company size or type. The regulation establishes multiple minimum wage rates for small and big businesses, as well as employees who get tips or medical benefits from their employers.
In 2024, Seattle’s minimum wage for small firms (500 or fewer employees) will rise to $17.25 per hour if the company pays $2.72 per hour for medical insurance and/or the employee receives $2.72 per hour in tips. If not, the company has to pay $19.97 per hour. For big companies (those with more than 500 employees), the minimum wage will rise to $19.97 per hour, excluding tips or benefits.
In addition, Seattle has a separate regulation that governs the minimum pay for rideshare drivers who pick up or drop off customers within city limits. The regulation establishes minimum per-minute and per-mile fees for drivers, as well as a minimum per-trip fee. In 2024, the cost for travel inside Seattle will be 66 cents per minute plus $1.55 per mile, or $5.81 per trip, whichever is larger. For journeys outside of Seattle, the costs will be 38 cents per minute plus $1.31 per mile, or $3.37 per trip, whichever is larger.
Tukwila
Tukwila is a city in King County, located south of Seattle. Tukwila approved minimum wage legislation in 2020 that applies to all city workers, except those who are exempt under state or federal law. The legislation establishes distinct minimum wage rates for big, mid-size, and small firms depending on their global employee count and yearly gross sales in Tukwila.
Tukwila’s minimum wage for major firms (with more than 500 employees globally) will rise to $20.29 per hour in 2024, up from $19.65 per hour in the previous year. For mid-size firms (with 15 to 500 workers globally or more than $2 million in yearly gross revenue in Tukwila), the minimum wage will rise to $18.29 per hour on January 1, 2024, and subsequently to $19.29 per hour on July 1, 2024.
In 2024, small firms (with fewer than 15 workers globally and less than $2 million in annual gross revenue in Tukwila) will pay the state minimum wage of $16.28 per hour.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Washington state is raising the minimum wage on its own to try to even out income differences. The state’s minimum wage for people 16 and up will go up to $16.28 an hour on January 1, 2024. Some places, like SeaTac, Seattle, and Tukwila, have higher minimum wage rates, though, because of different rules. This change is meant to help workers, but it comes with a lot of different problems and duties for companies in different Washington cities.