Washington Overtime Calculator 2026 (WA L&I Rules)

The 2026 Washington Minimum Wage Surge ($17.13/hr)

Washington State consistently ranks as having one of the highest minimum wages in the nation, aggressively adjusting for inflation every year. For 2026, the baseline state minimum wage is $17.13 per hour for workers aged 16 and older.

If you work in specific local municipalities like Seattle, SeaTac, or Tukwila, your local city ordinance may mandate an even higher hourly rate. Washington does not allow employers to use a tip credit. If you are a bartender or server, your employer must pay you the full $17.13 base wage before any tips are calculated.

Tech & Healthcare: Are You Paid for "On-Call" Time?

A massive point of wage theft in Washington involves "On-Call" shifts, particularly in Seattle's tech industry and statewide healthcare facilities. Whether your on-call time counts toward your 40-hour overtime threshold depends entirely on the legal distinction between being "Engaged to Wait" and "Waiting to be Engaged".

Flowchart explaining Washington on-call rules. 'Engaged to Wait' (restricted to premises, must respond immediately) leads to a green 'Paid Time' box. 'Waiting to be Engaged' (can stay home, long response time) leads to a red 'Unpaid Time' box. — If your employer restricts your freedom during an on-call shift, those hours legally count toward your 40-hour overtime threshold.

If your on-call shift severely restricts your geographical location or demands an immediate response time that prevents you from running errands, that time is legally compensable. You should add those hours into the "Compensable On-Call" field in the calculator above. If you need to convert specific on-call shift minutes into decimals, use our decimal hours calculator first.

The Historic Agricultural Overtime Mandate

Historically, agricultural and dairy workers were completely exempt from overtime pay. This changed drastically in Washington State following a landmark Supreme Court decision and subsequent legislation (SB 5172).

"As of January 1, 2024, the phase-in period is complete. All agricultural workers in Washington State are now legally entitled to time-and-a-half (1.5x) overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek."

**Washington Agricultural Overtime Implementation**
Year	Overtime Threshold for Ag Workers
2022	Overtime paid after 55 hours
2023	Overtime paid after 48 hours
2024 - 2026+	Overtime paid after 40 hours (Full FLSA Parity)

If you work on a farm, dairy, or orchard, you now use the exact same overtime math as an office worker in Seattle.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the minimum wage in Washington State for 2026?

For 2026, the Washington State minimum wage is generally $17.13 per hour. Certain cities, such as Seattle and SeaTac, have even higher local minimum wages that supersede the state rate.

2. Does Washington State require daily overtime?

No. Washington State follows the weekly standard. Overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate is only required after working 40 hours in a 7-day workweek, regardless of how many hours are worked in a single day.

3. Do agricultural workers get overtime in Washington?

Yes. As of 2024, Washington completely phased out the agricultural overtime exemption. All dairy and agricultural workers are now entitled to 1.5x overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

4. Is 'on-call' time paid in Washington?

It depends. If you are 'engaged to wait' (restricted to the premises or cannot use the time for your own purposes), it is compensable time and counts toward your 40-hour overtime threshold. If you are 'waiting to be engaged' (free to do as you please until called), it is generally unpaid.

Washington Overtime Pay Calculator