2025 minimum wage toolkit

Higher minimum wage starts in 2025

Get ready—the minimum wage is increasing.

The lowest hourly wage for work in unincorporated King County will go up to $20.29 an hour on January 1. There are exceptions for smaller businesses.

• If the employer has 15 or fewer employees and an annual gross revenue of less than $2 million, the 2025 minimum wage is $17.29 per hour.
• If the employer has 15 or fewer employees and an annual gross revenue of $2 million or more, the 2025 minimum wage is $18.29 per hour.
• If the employer has more than 15 but fewer than 500 employees and a gross revenue of any amount, the 2025 minimum is $18.29 per hour.
• If the employer has more than 500 employees and a gross revenue of any amount, the 2025 minimum wage is $20.29 per hour.

The new minimum wage applies only to the unincorporated areas of King County—those that are not inside a city. Affected areas include Skyway, White Center, the Snoqualmie Valley, Greater Maple Valley, the Enumclaw Plateau, and Vashon Island. If you want to find out if your workplace or business is in unincorporated King County, visit the county’s interactive map (kingcounty.gov/unincorporated-map).

Other cities in King County, including Burien, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, and Tukwila, also have adopted a minimum wage that is higher than the Washington State rate.

King County’s wage increase is designed to help working families in unincorporated King County meet the costs of living. The new wage also will make the hourly rate similar to those in nearby cities. For example, in 2024 the minimum wage in Skyway was $16.28, while the rate in neighboring Tukwila was $20.29.

The minimum wage in unincorporated King County will increase on January 1 each year to reflect inflation. The exceptions for smaller employers will be phased out over the coming years until all employers are paying the same minimum wage.

To learn more, visit the county website (kingcounty.gov/wage), email questions to AskLocalServices@kingcounty.gov, or call 206-477-3800.

For use before January 1, 2025

• Get ready! The new minimum wage in unincorporated King County will be $20.29 on January 1. Smaller businesses can pay less. Kingcounty.gov/wage. #kingcountylocalservices #unincorporatedkingcounty
• Know your wage. The new minimum wage in unincorporated King County will be $20.29 on January 1. Smaller businesses can pay less. Kingcounty.gov/wage. #kingcountylocalservices #unincorporatedkingcounty
• The new minimum wage in unincorporated King County will be $20.29 on January 1. Find or enter your address on this map to see if this applies to you. kingcounty.gov/wage. #kingcountylocalservices #unincorporatedkingcounty

For use after January 1, 2025

• New Year. New Wage. The lowest hourly wage for work in unincorporated King County is now $20.29. Smaller businesses can pay less. Kingcounty.gov/wage. #kingcountylocalservices #unincorporatedkingcounty
• New in 2025 – The minimum wage in unincorporated King County is now $20.29. Smaller businesses can pay less. Kingcounty.gov/wage. #kingcountylocalservices #unincorporatedkingcounty
• The new minimum wage in unincorporated King County is $20.29. Find or enter your address on this map to see if this applies to you. kingcounty.gov/wage. #kingcountylocalservices #unincorporatedkingcounty