Seattle, WA Mimimum Wage & Wage Claims

    
        Home
      
           Wage & Hour Law
        
          Minimum Wage
        
            Washington
          
            King County
          
              Seattle
            
    WA 
    WAGE & HOUR LAW:
    Minimum Wage
    Tips
    Overtime
    Time Off
  
Minimum Wage in King County, Washington
  
Seattle, Washington 98104
Washington Counties

 .
Seattle, WA Minimum Wage and Wage ClaimsWhat Is the Minimum Wage in Seattle, WA?You are entitled to the highest minimum wage that applies where you work, whether set by your city, county, or state government. (Most cities and counties don’t have their own minimum wage laws.)
Seattle Minimum WageThe current minimum wage in Seattle is $19.97 an hour, if you work for an employer with more than 500 employees. If you work for an employee with 500 or fewer employees, the minimum wage depends on whether your employer pays at least $1.52 per hour towards your medical benefits. If so, the minimum wage is $17.25 an hour. If not, the minimum wage is $19.97 an hour.
Find out more about Seattle’s minimum wage at http://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/ordinances/minimum-wage.
King County Minimum WageThe minimum wage in King County is $16.28 an hour, the state minimum wage. However, cities and counties in Washington are free to adopt their own higher minimum wage, and dozens of cities and counties across the country have done so. To find out whether King County has passed its own minimum wage law since we last updated, visit https://kingcounty.gov/.
Washington Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Washington is $16.28 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Evergreen State must be paid at least $16.28 an hour. A couple of local governments in Washington have passed ordinances establishing a higher minimum wage.
Learn more about Washington’s minimum wage at https://lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/wages/minimum-wage/.
What Is the Tipped Minimum Wage in Seattle, WA?Some states and local governments allow employers to pay tipped employees a lower minimum hourly wage; others don't. 
Seattle Tipped Minimum WageIf you work for an employer with more than 500 employees, the tipped minimum wage is $19.97; your employer may not count your tips against the minimum wage requirement. If you work for a smaller employer and your employer pays at least $1.52 an hour towards your medical benefits,  your employer may pay you a tipped minimum wage of $17.25 an hour. 
Washington Tipped Minimum Wage
The tipped minimum wage in Washington is the same as the regular minimum wage: $16.28 an hour. Tips don't count against an employer's obligation to pay the minimum wage. 
Advertisement

Who Enforces Seattle, WA Minimum Wage Laws?
Seattle Enforcement AgencyIf you have questions about the city of Seattle’s minimum wage law, contact the:
Seattle Office of Labor StandardsURL: http://www.seattle.gov/laborstandardsAddress: 
Seattle Office of Labor Standards
810 3rd Avenue, Suite 375
Seattle, WA 98104-1627
Phone: 206-256-5297
Washington Enforcement AgencyIf you have questions about Washington's minimum wage, contact the 
Washington State Department of Labor & IndustriesURL: https://www.lni.wa.gov/Phone: 866-219-7321
Find the nearest office of the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries at https://lni.wa.gov/agency/contact/#office-locations.
Email: ESGeneral@Lni.wa.gov
How to File a Wage Claim in Seattle, WAIf you were not paid the minimum wage in Seattle, WA, you may have the right to file a wage claim or complaint with a government agency. Be sure to look at the wage claim materials (below) for the agency that enforces the law you believe was violated, whether city, county, or state. 
All jurisdictions impose a time limit on how far back you may claim unpaid wages, so it's important to file your claim quickly. There may be other restrictions on the claims you may file, such as dollar-amount limits or limits on the agency’s ability to force employers to comply with the law. You may be required to ask your employer to pay you correctly before you file a claim. And, you almost always have the option to go straight to court and file a lawsuit instead of filing a wage claim with a government agency. For these reasons, it often makes sense to talk to an experienced wage and hour lawyer to make sure you know all of your options, understand the strength of your claims, and decide how to proceed.
Filing a Wage Complaint with the Seattle Office of Labor StandardsIf you were not paid the minimum wage in Seattle, you may file a wage complaint with the city of Seattle. Typically, you must file a form or provide information to the agency. Learn more about filing a wage complaint for violation of Seattle’s minimum wage law.
Filing a Wage Claim with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has posted information and a form to file a wage claim at its website. 
Advertisement

Get Help With Seattle, WA Wage Claims and LawsuitsIf you are considering filing a wage claim or lawsuit, you may want to speak to a local wage and hour attorney. The resources below can help you find a lawyer near you.
Seattle, WA Free or Low-Cost Legal AssistanceLegal aid offices provide free legal assistance to low-income people. Typically, you must qualify for legal aid based on your income. Visit WashingtonLawHelp to find local resources and legal aid offices.
Some law schools have free legal clinics that provide assistance with specific problems, including wage and hour issues and other employment matters. Find a list of law schools offering legal clinics on a variety of issues at the American Bar Association Center for Pro Bono.
Advertisement

Seattle, WA Lawyer DirectoriesLawyer Referral Services in Washington. Check with the Washington State Bar Association for information on lawyer referral services in Seattle, WA. Lawyer referral services match people with attorneys who specialize in particular legal fields, such as wage and hour law.
NELA’s “Find-A-Lawyer” Service. Search the National Employment Lawyer’s Association’s membership to find Seattle, WA lawyers who specialize in wage and hour claims and other employment issues.
ADVERTISEMENT - 
Free Overtime Case Evaluation For Seattle, WADo you have questions about whether you're getting the wages you're entitled to in Washington? Use the form below to connect with a lawyer through the Nolo / Martindale network of overtime lawyers.
SPONSORED FORM - Nolo/Martindale Attorney Network

Seattle, WA Wage & Hour Resources

Minimum Wage In Washington

The minimum wage in Washington is $16.28 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Evergreen State must be paid at least $16.28 an hour. A couple of local governments in Washington have passed ordinances establishing a higher minimum wage.

Seattle, WA Wage & Hour Law

Overtime

Tips

Nearby States

King County Resources

Wage & Hour Law Minimum Wage ▼

What Is the Minimum Wage in Washington?

What Is the Minimum Wage in Washington?

The minimum wage in Washington is $16.28 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Evergreen State must be paid at least $16.28 an hour. A couple of local governments in Washington have passed ordinances establishing a higher minimum wage.

The minimum wage is the least you can be paid per hour, by law. You are entitled to earn at least the highest minimum wage that applies to you, whether the standard is federal, state, or local. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25. If your city or state has passed a law setting a higher minimum wage, your employer must pay you at least that higher amount per hour; it cannot pay you the lower federal minimum wage instead.

The minimum wage represents gross earnings: earnings before deductions, such as tax withholding, are taken. Your actual take-home pay may be less than the minimum wage.
Who Earns Overtime in Washington?
Who Earns Overtime in Washington?
You qualify for overtime pay if:
- you are paid by the hour
- you are not exempt (for example, because you hold a “white collar” job), and
- you work over 40 hours in a workweek (or 8 hours in a workday in some states).
If you are eligible for overtime, you are entitled to 1-1/2 times your regular hourly rate for each overtime hour worked. Check the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries for the overtime standards in Washington.

For more information about overtime eligibility, see Am I Entitled to Overtime Pay in Washington?
How Do I Calculate My Hourly Wage?

How Do I Calculate My Hourly Wage?

To calculate your hourly wage, take the total amount you are paid (whether by the hour, as a salary, by piece rate, or on commission) in a pay period, such as one workweek. Divide that total amount by the total number of regular time (not overtime) hours you worked to earn that money. Be sure to count every hour you worked, including time spent working from home (if allowed by your employer) and any break time for which you should be paid, including breaks that lasted 20 minutes or less and breaks during which you had to work. The hourly rate that you come up with must be at least the minimum wage in Washington.

For more information about your pay rights, see What Are My Rights to Pay for Work in Washington?
What Is a Tip Credit?

What Is a Tip Credit?

A tip credit is the amount of tips you earn that your employer can count towards its obligation to pay you the minimum wage.

An employer that is allowed to take a tip credit can pay you less than the regular minimum wage, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your hourly compensation up to at least the minimum wage. Under federal law, for example, the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, but employers may pay tipped employees as little as $2.13 an hour, as long as the employee earns at least the rest in tips. An employer taking advantage of this lower minimum wage is taking a tip credit of $5.12 an hour.

Not all states allow employers to take a tip credit. Some states that allow a tip credit set the minimum tipped wage amount at $2.13 an hour, like federal law; others have established a higher tipped minimum wage.
The tipped minimum wage in Washington is the same as the regular minimum wage: $16.28 an hour. Tips don't count against an employer's obligation to pay the minimum wage.
Are Tip Pools Legal?
Are Tip Pools Legal?
Does your employer require you to pool tips? Tip pooling, sometimes called tip sharing or tipping out, is a common practice in establishments where only some employees receive tips directly from customers, especially restaurants.

In a tip pool, tipped employees put a certain amount or percentage of their tips into a pot, which is then shared among a group of employees. Whether a tip pool is legal depends on who shares in the pool, among other things.

The general rule is that tips belong to the employee who received them. However, employees can be required to pay part of their tips into a tip sharing arrangement, as long as it meets these legal requirements:
- The employer may not share in the tip pool. This includes managers and supervisors. If managers and supervisors receive their own tips for services they directly and solely provide to customers, they may contribute a portion of those tips to the tip pool, but they may not take any money from the pool.
- If the employer takes a tip credit, then only employees who regularly and customarily receive tips may share in the tip pool. For example, wait staff, bussers, and bartenders may be part of the tip pool, but "back of the house" employees -- like cooks and dishwashers -- may not. (Employers that don't take a tip credit may allow back of the house employees to take a share of the tip pool, but only if state law allows it.)
- Only the amount of tips an employee actually takes home counts towards any employer tip credit. In other words, if an employee has to share tips, the employee's hourly wage includes only what the employee got back from the tip pool, not what the employee had to put into the pot.
Am I Entitled to Breaks?

Am I Entitled to Breaks?

Believe it or not, employers in many states have no legal obligation to give their employees any breaks during the work day. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to provide any breaks, and many states follow the same rule. Other states require employers to provide rest breaks, meal breaks, or both.

A small number of states require employers to provide paid rest breaks during the work day.
Washington employers must provide a 30-minute meal break to employees who work more than five consecutive hours. This break may not take place within the employee's first two hours of work, nor after the employee has worked five hours. The break is unpaid unless the employee is required to remain on site.

Employees are entitled to an additional 30-minute break if they are required to work three hours or more beyond their usual shift.
In Washington, you are entitled to take a ten-minute rest break, with pay, for every four hours you work. Your employer must allow you to take your break in the middle of that work period, if practicable. You may not be required to work more than three hours without a rest break.
How Can I Enforce My Wage and Hour Rights?
How Can I Enforce My Wage and Hour Rights?
If your employer hasn't paid you overtime, hasn't given you legally required breaks, didn't give you a final paycheck, or has otherwise not paid you everything you are owed, you should take steps to assert your rights. There are three things you can do:
- Complain within your company. Use your company's internal complaint process to raise your concerns. Ask the company to investigate and make the situation right. The law protects you from employer retaliation for asserting your wage and hour rights.
- File a wage claim. If your company doesn't resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, find out whether your state has an administrative wage claim procedure. In most states, you can file a claim with the state agency that enforces wage and hour laws. Your claim may be investigated, settled, or sent to an administrative hearing, where you can present evidence that you were not paid properly. It's a good idea to talk to an employment lawyer if you are considering filing a wage claim. A lawyer can help you word the complaint properly, present your best evidence persuasively, and reach the best possible outcome -- all while preserving your arguments for court, if things don't work out.
- File a lawsuit. If other avenues don't work, you can sue your employer in state or federal court for wage theft. At this point, you will definitely need legal representation to persuade a judge or jury to enter a judgment in your favor.
What Is a Wage Claim?

What Is a Wage Claim?

A wage claim is an administrative complaint you can make against your employer with your state department of labor. Most states have created a process for employees to file a wage claim with a government agency, so they can get their claims adjudicated and get the money they are owed, in less time and for less money than it would cost to file a lawsuit.

Not every state has a wage claim procedure, however.

Check the website of the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries to learn more.
Do I Need a Lawyer for My Overtime or Wage Case?

Do I Need a Lawyer for My Overtime or Wage Case?

In most cases, it makes sense to hire a lawyer to pursue your overtime or unpaid wage claim. This doesn’t mean you should hire a lawyer at the first sign of trouble, however. If you believe your employer hasn’t paid you fairly, start by raising the issue within your company. Ask your manager or your human resource representative about the problem, or file a complaint using your company’s internal complaint process. It is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for making a wage and hour complaint, whether you make it within your company or to an outside agency or court.

If your company does nothing to address your concerns – or breaks the law by firing or disciplining you for asserting your rights – then it’s time to talk to a lawyer. At this point, your options are to negotiate a settlement of your claims with your employer, file a wage claim against your employer with your state’s labor department (if your state has this type of procedure), or file a lawsuit. Having a lawyer will greatly boost your chances of success in any of these endeavors. And, because most lawyers work on a contingency fee basis in these types of cases, you won’t have to pay the lawyer unless you win. Learn more about finding a wage and hour lawyer.
How Do Wage and Hour Lawyers Charge?

How Do Wage and Hour Lawyers Charge?

Most lawyers that represent employees charge a contingency fee. This means the lawyer gets paid only if the client wins, and only out of the money the client receives as a settlement or court award. When you meet with a lawyer, ask how the lawyer charges, including what percentage he or she will take as a contingency fee.

You will most likely have to pay the costs of litigation, including court fees, transcription costs, copying costs, and so on. Some attorneys will advance these costs for you, paying them out of pocket until the end of the case. If you win, you can use your award to pay the costs.
What Is a Class Action Lawsuit?

What Is a Class Action Lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is a court case brought on behalf of a group of employees who have similar legal claims against their employer. In a class action case, one lawsuit decides the rights of all employees who are members of the class.

It’s not uncommon for overtime and unpaid wage cases to be brought as class action lawsuits, if the employer applied an illegal policy to a group of employees. For example, if a retail employer required all employees to arrive at 8:30 a.m., spend half an hour cleaning the store and restocking shelves, and then clock in (and start to get paid) at 9 a.m., an attorney might bring a class action lawsuit on behalf of all employees who were subjected to this policy.

Many wage and hour cases involve relatively small dollar amounts. Although every dollar you aren’t paid is undoubtedly very important to you, the overall value of your case might not be high enough to interest an attorney in representing you. When a number of employees combine in one lawsuit, the attorney can bring all of your claims at the same time and earn a higher fee.