Short answer. City of Burien (page updated October 13, 2026): large employers pay $22.49 in 2027, after a CPI-W increase of 3.3%.
$22.49
Burien minimum wage from January 1, 2027 (+$0.71, 3.3%)
Burien minimum wage at a glance
- 2027 rate
- $22.49 an hour from January 1, 2027
- 2026 rate
- $21.78 an hour
- Change
- +$0.71 an hour (3.3%)
- Washington rate, 2027
- $17.73 an hour
- Burien above Washington
- $4.76 an hour (26.8%) in 2027
- Kind of rate
- City ordinance
- Official page
- City of Burien: Minimum Wage
Burien rate history: 2026 to 2027
City of Burien: $21.78 an hour for large employers (501 or more employees) in 2026. City of Burien (page updated October 13, 2026): large employers pay $22.49 in 2027, after a CPI-W increase of 3.3%. That is $0.71 more an hour, a 3.3% increase, for hours worked in Burien on or after January 1, 2027.
Who the Burien rate covers
Burien sets three employer sizes: large (501 or more employees), medium (16 to 500) and small (15 or fewer). The City Council repealed the 2024 ordinance (Chapter 5.15) effective May 27, 2026; the rates follow Chapter 5.16, the voter initiative passed in February 2025. Employers certify compliance each year from January 31, 2027.
Burien compared with the Washington minimum wage
The Washington general rate is $17.13 in 2026 and $17.73 in 2027. Burien's $22.49 is $4.76 an hour, or 26.8%, above the state's 2027 rate; in 2026 the gap was $4.65. Over a 2,080-hour year that's $9,901 more than the state minimum for one full-time employee. See the Washington 2027 minimum wage page for the state rules.
Other Burien rates by employer size
| Who | 2026 | 2027 | What the official page says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main rate (shown above) | $21.78 | $22.49 | City of Burien (page updated October 13, 2026): large employers pay $22.49 in 2027, after a CPI-W increase of 3.3%. |
| Medium employers (16 to 500 employees) | $20.78 | $22.49 | City of Burien: in 2027 the medium rate equals the large-employer rate. |
| Small employers (15 or fewer employees) | $19.28 | $20.49 | City of Burien: $20.49 for small employers in 2027. |
What the Burien rate means for pay
Weekly gross pay at the Burien minimum, before taxes. Hours over 40 are paid at time and a half under federal overtime rules. A full-time year of 2,080 hours comes to about $46,779 at the 2027 rate, against $45,302 at the 2026 rate and $36,878 at the Washington 2027 rate.
| Schedule | Burien 2026 | Burien 2027 | Difference | Washington 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full time, 40 hours | $871.20 | $899.60 | +$28.40 | $709.20 |
| Part time, 24 hours | $522.72 | $539.76 | +$17.04 | $425.52 |
| 45 hours (5 at time and a half) | $1,034.55 | $1,068.28 | +$33.73 | $842.18 |
For a staff list, the payroll change calculator works out raises against the Washington rate; compare its results with Burien's $22.49 for anyone who works in Burien.
Updating payroll for Burien
- List everyone who works in Burien and is paid under $22.49 an hour, including part-time and seasonal staff and anyone who works there only some of the week.
- Decide which Burien rate applies by employer size: medium employers (16 to 500 employees); small employers (15 or fewer employees).
- Set the new rate in payroll with an effective date of January 1, 2027, and split any pay period that crosses it so hours before the date stay at $21.78.
- Replace the Burien minimum wage notice with the 2027 version from the official page.
For the Washington rules beyond the local minimum wage (new hire reporting, unemployment tax, final pay and more), the Washington Employer Compliance Kit 2027 ($19) has a checklist, a deadline calendar and an Excel tracker.
Other local rates in Washington
- Renton: $22.28 from January 1, 2027
- Seattle: $22.14 from January 1, 2027
- 4 more with 2027 not yet announced, in the local minimum wage table
Official sources for Burien
- City of Burien: Minimum Wage (checked November 2026)
- Washington L&I: local minimum wage rates (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal or payroll advice; we are not lawyers or payroll advisers. Checked November 2026 against the official Burien pages above. A city or county can change a rate after we check, and coverage, employer-size rules and exemptions differ from place to place. Before you change payroll, confirm the rate with the local labor standards office, your payroll provider or an employment attorney. MCC Solutions isn't affiliated with any government agency.
Burien minimum wage questions
What is the Burien minimum wage in 2027?
$22.49 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $21.78. City of Burien (page updated October 13, 2026): large employers pay $22.49 in 2027, after a CPI-W increase of 3.3%.
How does the Burien minimum wage compare with the Washington rate?
In 2027, Burien is $4.76 an hour (26.8%) above the Washington rate of $17.73. In 2026 the gap was $4.65. Employers pay the Burien rate for work done there.
How much is a full-time Burien minimum wage job in 2027?
$899.60 a week for 40 hours, or about $46,779 a year at 2,080 hours, before taxes. That is $28.40 a week more than at the 2026 rate.
Who does the Burien minimum wage cover?
Burien sets three employer sizes: large (501 or more employees), medium (16 to 500) and small (15 or fewer). The City Council repealed the 2024 ordinance (Chapter 5.15) effective May 27, 2026; the rates follow Chapter 5.16, the voter initiative passed in February 2025. Employers certify compliance each year from January 31, 2027.
Do small employers in Burien pay a different rate?
Medium employers (16 to 500 employees): $22.49 in 2027 ($20.78 in 2026). Small employers (15 or fewer employees): $20.49 in 2027 ($19.28 in 2026). City of Burien: in 2027 the medium rate equals the large-employer rate.
All localities: local minimum wage 2027 · Washington minimum wage 2027 · Minimum wage by state