A round of changes that will impact Washington workplaces as 2026 approaches include higher worker pay and numerous changes to workplace safety.
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries calculates new wage standards for the year, including the minimum wage. L&I is calculated using the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for civilian wage earners and knowledge workers.
Changes include:
Raise the minimum wage
Washington’s minimum wage is now $17.13 an hour. This is 2.8% higher than the 16.66 an hourly minimum wage in 2025.
Employers can pay 14- and 15-year-old workers 85% of the minimum wage, or $14.56 an hour.
Local governments are allowed to set minimum wages that are higher than the state minimum. Minimum wage areas include Seattle, Seatac, Tukwila, Renton, Bellingham, Everett, Bryan, and unincorporated King County.
Tower crane safety requirements
Prime contractors must now obtain a permit and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the operation, assembly, disassembly or reconfiguration of tower cranes. L&I will consider a primary contractor’s history of safety and health violations as part of the permit application process.
Information on the new tower crane requirements is on the L & I website.
Workers exempt from overtime
Certain employees are exempted from the rules that require that if they are paid on a salary basis, perform work in accordance with executive, managerial or professional duties, and a certain salary, which is calculated.
By 2026, all employers must pay exempt workers at least 2.25 times the minimum wage overtime. This means that the employee must pay at least 1,541.70 a week (80,168.40 a year).
The hourly rate for exempt computer professionals shall be 3.5 times the minimum wage, or .959.96 an hour.
Pay for ridershare drivers
The minimum pay rider share a driver will earn is January 1.
For trips within Seattle, they pay 70 cents per passenger platform minute and passenger platform mile, or $6.12, whichever is greater.
For trips outside of Seattle, it went up to 40 cents per passenger platform minute and $1.38 per passenger platform mile, or $3.55, whichever is greater.
Non-competition clauses
L&I is also responsible for calculating the minimum annual salary eligible for a non-compete clause or employee agreement. In 2026, the threshold for employees is 6,126,858.83. For independent contractors, the minimum is $7,317,147.09. A non-compete clause or employee agreement for a worker who earns less than these amounts is not enforceable.
Titles
Commercial Lines Business Insurance Washington
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