Short answer. Seattle Office of Labor Standards: the minimum wage is $22.14 an hour from January 1, 2027.
$22.14
Seattle minimum wage from January 1, 2027 (+$0.84, 3.9%)
Seattle minimum wage at a glance
- 2027 rate
- $22.14 an hour from January 1, 2027
- 2026 rate
- $21.30 an hour from January 1, 2026
- Change
- +$0.84 an hour (3.9%)
- Washington rate, 2027
- $17.73 an hour
- Seattle above Washington
- $4.41 an hour (24.9%) in 2027
- Kind of rate
- City ordinance
- Official page
- City of Seattle Office of Labor Standards: Seattle's 2027 minimum wage announcement
Seattle rate history: 2026 to 2027
Seattle Office of Labor Standards and Washington L&I: $21.30 an hour in 2026. Seattle Office of Labor Standards: the minimum wage is $22.14 an hour from January 1, 2027. That is $0.84 more an hour, a 3.9% increase, for hours worked in Seattle on or after January 1, 2027.
Who the Seattle rate covers
Employees working within Seattle city limits. The Office of Labor Standards says the minimum wage applies regardless of the employee's immigration status.
Seattle compared with the Washington minimum wage
The Washington general rate is $17.13 in 2026 and $17.73 in 2027. Seattle's $22.14 is $4.41 an hour, or 24.9%, above the state's 2027 rate; in 2026 the gap was $4.17. Over a 2,080-hour year that's $9,173 more than the state minimum for one full-time employee. See the Washington 2027 minimum wage page for the state rules.
What the Seattle rate means for pay
Weekly gross pay at the Seattle 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 $46,051 at the 2027 rate, against $44,304 at the 2026 rate and $36,878 at the Washington 2027 rate.
| Schedule | Seattle 2026 | Seattle 2027 | Difference | Washington 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full time, 40 hours | $852.00 | $885.60 | +$33.60 | $709.20 |
| Part time, 20 hours | $426.00 | $442.80 | +$16.80 | $354.60 |
| 45 hours (5 at time and a half) | $1,011.75 | $1,051.65 | +$39.90 | $842.18 |
For a staff list, the payroll change calculator works out raises against the Washington rate; compare its results with Seattle's $22.14 for anyone who works in Seattle.
Updating payroll for Seattle
- List everyone who works in Seattle and is paid under $22.14 an hour, including part-time and seasonal staff and anyone who works there only some of the week.
- 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 $21.30.
- Replace the Seattle 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
- Burien: $22.49 from January 1, 2027
- Renton: $22.28 from January 1, 2027
- 4 more with 2027 not yet announced, in the local minimum wage table
Official sources for Seattle
- City of Seattle Office of Labor Standards: Seattle's 2027 minimum wage announcement (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 Seattle 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.
Seattle minimum wage questions
What is the Seattle minimum wage in 2027?
$22.14 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $21.30. Seattle Office of Labor Standards: the minimum wage is $22.14 an hour from January 1, 2027.
How does the Seattle minimum wage compare with the Washington rate?
In 2027, Seattle is $4.41 an hour (24.9%) above the Washington rate of $17.73. In 2026 the gap was $4.17. Employers pay the Seattle rate for work done there.
How much is a full-time Seattle minimum wage job in 2027?
$885.60 a week for 40 hours, or about $46,051 a year at 2,080 hours, before taxes. That is $33.60 a week more than at the 2026 rate.
Who does the Seattle minimum wage cover?
Employees working within Seattle city limits. The Office of Labor Standards says the minimum wage applies regardless of the employee's immigration status.
All localities: local minimum wage 2027 · Washington minimum wage 2027 · Minimum wage by state