Minimum Wage on the Rise in Seattle in 2019

Businesses in the City of Seattle will soon be required to post an updated city poster reflecting the new 2019 minimum wage rates.

This revision to the Seattle City Poster only affects the Minimum Wage Ordinance—there are no changes to the Wage Theft, Fair Chance Employment, or Paid Sick & Safe Time ordinances.

2019 Minimum Wage Increases in The Emerald City

Minimum Wage Rates for Large & Small Employers

Under the Seattle Minimum Wage Ordinance, the minimum wage that large employers must pay increases annually based on the rate of inflation measured by the Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton Area Consumer Price Index.

The updated Minimum Wage notice includes the following wage rates effective January 1, 2019:

  • Large employers (with 501 or more employees) must pay a minimum wage of $16.00 per hour.
  • Small employers (with 500 or fewer employees) who don’t contribute at least $3.00 per hour toward employees’ medical benefits and/or whose employees don’t earn at least $3.00 per hour in tips must pay a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour.
  • Small employers (with 500 or fewer employees) who do contribute at least $3.00 per hour toward employees’ medical benefits and/or whose employees do earn at least $3.00 per hour in tips must pay a minimum wage of $12.00 per hour.

New Info Regarding Medical Benefits

Under the “Medical Benefits” heading, the Minimum Wage notice now includes the words of small employers in the following statement: “Employees of small employers must be enrolled in a silver-level or higher medical plan as defined by the federal Affordable Care Act.”

We Can Help You Stay in Compliance

If you order our City/County Poster 1-Year Plan, you will automatically receive the updated Seattle poster as soon as it becomes available. And because we provide free poster updates for mandatory changes, no matter how many occur during the plan year, you can always count on Poster Compliance Center to keep your business in compliance!