WASHINGTON: Minimal wage and exempt wage will increase in 2025 – Tech Cyber Internet

The state of Washington has introduced will increase to the minimal wage fee and the exempt wage thresholds for workers, efficient January 1, 2025. These will increase influence a number of state wage necessities that you simply’ll need to pay attention to if in case you have workers in Washington. The cities of Bellingham and Burien have additionally introduced their minimal wage will increase for 2025. The cities of Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, and unincorporated King County even have larger minimal wage necessities that shall be growing in 2025, however haven’t but introduced the brand new charges. Right here’s what we all know in regards to the introduced fee will increase:

Statewide minimal wage: The statewide minimal wage fee for nonexempt (overtime-eligible) staff will rise to $16.66 per hour (up from $16.28, a rise of two.35 %), efficient January 1, 2025. Particulars shall be obtainable on the Division of Labor and Industries (L&I) Washington minimal wage webpage as soon as L&I updates the web page.

Exempt wage: Because of the minimal wage enhance for nonexempt workers, the minimal wage for white-collar staff who’re exempt from additional time will enhance as of January 1, 2025, as properly. Small employers with as much as 50 workers should pay exempt workers a wage of not less than $1,332.80 per week ($69,305.60 per yr). Massive employers with 51 or extra workers should pay exempt workers a wage of not less than $1,499.40 per week ($77,968.80 per yr). For a useful chart, see L&I’s wage implementation threshold schedulewhich shall be up to date with these modifications as soon as L&I refreshes its assets.

The wage threshold beneath federal legislation starting January 1, 2025, shall be solely $1,128.00 per week, so employers in Washington should pay on the larger state stage. The edge wage is required no matter what number of hours an exempt worker works within the week, so even a part-time worker have to be paid at this new larger wage (not a prorated portion of it) to fulfill the additional time exemption. L&I has created a web-based additional time useful resource middle to help employers in understanding these wage necessities, together with charts, reality sheets, workshops, and webinars.

Exempt pc professionals: The minimal wage fee for exempt pc professionals who’re paid hourly can even enhance as of January 1, 2025. All employers who select to pay their exempt pc professionals an hourly fee somewhat than the salaried exempt fee described above should pay them not less than 3.5 instances the state minimal wage, which works out to $58.31 per hour in 2025. See L&I’s Administrative Coverage ES.A.9.6 (Exemption from Minimal Wage Act Necessities for Pc Skilled Workers).

Bellingham minimal wage: The Metropolis of Bellingham is growing its minimal wage fee to $17.66 per hour for many workers, up from final yr’s $17.28 per hour. (Be aware: the minimal wage will enhance once more to $18.66 on Could 1, 2025).

Burien minimal wage: The Metropolis of Burien’s new minimal wage charges go into impact as follows:

• Stage 1 employers (all employers, together with franchisees, with greater than 500 FTEs in King County or franchisors who make use of greater than 500 FTEs within the combination): $19.66 per hour as of January 1, 2025.
• Stage 2 employers (all employers, together with franchisees, that make use of 21 to 499 FTEs in King County): $18.66 per hour as of July 1, 2025.

Burien’s wage ordinance doesn’t apply to employers with 20 or fewer FTEs, often known as Stage 3 employers. The ordinance directs the Metropolis to create a minimal wage poster, which employers should prominently show as soon as the ordinance takes impact.

Ideas: The minimal wage charges in Bellingham, Burien, Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, and unincorporated King County proceed to be larger than the statewide fee in Washington. You could pay workers on the highest minimal wage fee that applies to them. Whereas written discover of those pay will increase isn’t required aside from Burien, Seattle, and Tukwila workers, advance written discover is definitely a finest apply for worker retention and morale. For extra info on additional time exemptions in Washington, see our Authorized Information, State Legal guidelines on the White Collar Exemptions from Extra time. If in case you have questions on which charges apply to your workers or whether or not they’re exempt, contact your Vigilant Legislation Group employment lawyer.