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Hourly Wage Index
Discover how your pay practices stack up against other regions, positions, and industries. 
HOURLY WAGE INDEX

Let’s talk wages in Washington

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$15.74

What is the minimum wage in Washington?

The Washington minimum wage is $15.74 per hour for large employers (those with annual gross income of more than $500,000) and $13.50 for small employers (those with annual gross income of $500,000 or less).
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$25.84

What is the average wage in Washington?

The average hourly wage for all occupations in Washington was $25.84. However, certain industries and occupations have significantly higher or lower average wages. For example, the average wage for management occupations is $57.06 per hour, while the average wage for food preparation and serving related occupations is $13.36 per hour.
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$18.69

What is the minimum wage in Seattle, Washington?

The minimum wage in Seattle went up to $18.69 per hour in January of 2023 for workers aged 13 and older. The city's minimum wage is higher than the state and federal minimum wage, and Seattle is one of only a handful of cities with a minimum wage that is higher than the federal minimum.

Wages aren’t everything!

While pay is one of the main factors that hourly employees consider when choosing to join (or stay at) a company, it’s not the end all be all. Research shows that advancement opportunities, supportive management, and schedule flexibility are all incredibly important as well.

Want to learn more about this trend? We dive deep into the data behind which perks and benefits matter most to hourly workers. Check out our full conversation with expert Sara Wasserteil of Cara Collective.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between gross wages and net wages?

It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.

What is a good hourly wage?

This question is a difficult one to answer, as a "good hourly wage" is highly subjective according to experience, work responsibilities, cost of living, and other factors. We recommend using Hourly Wage Index data as a starting point. Once you have established a baseline for certain positions, do further research into similar businesses in your area.

Lastly, consider surveying your employees. They're the best resource to help you know what is a good hourly wage, what competitive pay looks like in your location, and how competitive wages change in your industry over time.

Offering competitive pay is one of my top priorities—what other resources do you have that might help?

We know that getting applicants to pay attention to your business can be extremely challenging, and that offering competitive pay is a huge part of that. Wages aren’t everything, however! Applicant experience is another important factor that can help set you apart from your competition. A few examples include:

  • Short, easy to understand job descriptions
  • Mobile-friendliness
  • Quick communication
  • Streamlined interview stages
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We're here to help!

A Workstream hiring specialist can help you identify high impact ways to improve your applicant experience, and even help you determine what is a good hourly wage for your location and business.

Sign up for a free 30 minute chat with a hiring specialist now

Learn about wages in your city