Seattle's Minimum Wage: It's Complicated

Note: The State of Washington's minimum wage is $9.32.

First of all, there are 2 categories of employers.

• Large
• 500 or more employees, in Seattle or nationally
• Schedule 1
• Small 
• Fewer than 500 employees
• Schedule 2

Then there are different schedules within each category

• Schedule 1 ($15 minimum wage target date)
• No benefits (January 1, 2017)
• Health benefits (January 1, 2018)
• Schedule 2 ($15 minimum wage target date)
• No benefits (January 1, 2021)
• Health benefits (January 1, 2019)

Schedule 2 employers can meet the applicable hourly minimum compensation requirement through

wages 

+ 

tips

+ 
health care contribution*

*money paid by an employer towards an individual employee’s medical benefits plan

Minimum compensation requirement will no longer be in effect as of January 1, 2025.

Sources:
City of Seattle.  Office of the Mayor.
Seattle City Council.  Select Committee on Minimum Wage and Income Inequality.
Ordinance no. 124490

Related posts: 
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 UW-Milwaukee survey:  76% of respondents support raising the minimum wage.  (6/25/2014)
Wisconsin's $7.25 minimum wage: "Minimum comfort" indeed! (6/24/2014)
U.S. minimum wage since 1960.  (6/24/2014)
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