Washington minimum wage will rise to $17.73 an hour on Jan. 1

The state Department of Labor & Industries announced Sept. 30 that the statewide minimum wage will increase 60 cents to $17.73 per hour starting Jan. 1, 2027. Cities can set higher local minimums; none of the Tri-Cities has its own.

For employers with 51 or more employees, workers must earn at least $1,773 a week ($92,196 a year) to be exempt from overtime pay.