New Minimum Wage Resources
Higher Minimum Wage Starts in 2025
Get ready – the minimum wage is increasing. The below information is directly from King County Local Services.
The lowest hourly wage for work done in unincorporated King County will go up to $20.29 an hour on January 1. There are exceptions for smaller businesses.
The new minimum wage rates varies based on the size of your business:
15 or fewer employees and annual gross revenue of less than $2 million = $17.29 per hour
15 or fewer employees and annual gross revenue of $2 million or more = $18.29 per hour
More than 15 but fewer than 500 employees and gross revenue of any amount = $18.29 per hour
More than 500 employees and gross revenue of any amount = $20.29 per hour
The new minimum wage applies only to the unincorporated areas of King County, or those that are not inside a city. Affected areas include Skyway, White Center, the Snoqualmie Valley, Greater Maple Valley, the Enumclaw Plateau, and Vashon Island.
If you want to find out if your workplace or business is in unincorporated King County, visit kingcounty.gov/unincorporated-map.
Other cities in King County, including Burien, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, and Tukwila, also have adopted a minimum wage that is higher than the Washington State rate.
King County’s wage increase is designed to help working families in unincorporated King County meet the costs of living. The new wage also will make the hourly rate similar to those in nearby cities. For example, in 2024 the minimum wage in Skyway was $16.28, while the rate in neighboring Tukwila was $20.29.
The minimum wage in unincorporated King County will increase on January 1 each year to reflect inflation. The exceptions for smaller employers will be phased out over the coming years until all employers are paying the same minimum wage.
To learn more, visit kingcounty.gov/wage, email questions to AskLocalServices@kingcounty.gov or call 206-477-3800.