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Fired or underpaid in Washington? Wage and workplace rules
Pay rules and injury-claim deadlines for workers in Washington, each checked against the state code or labor agency. Federal law also applies and some cities set higher minimums.
The Washington rules, checked against the source
Minimum wage
$17.13 per hour in 2026 for most workers (L&I adjusts it every year).
Source: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries · checked November 6, 2026
Overtime
At least one and one-half times the regular rate for hours over forty in a workweek, subject to exemptions.
Source: RCW 49.46.130(1) · checked November 6, 2026
Filing the comp claim
An application must be filed within one year after the day of the injury.
Source: RCW 51.28.050 · checked November 6, 2026
Time-loss compensation
A percentage of wages set by marital status and number of children, starting at sixty percent for an unmarried worker with no children, subject to limits.
Source: RCW 51.32.060 · checked November 6, 2026
Rules not listed here were left out because we could not check them against an official Washington source. That does not mean no rule exists.
What this means for you
Keep your own records
Write down your hours, pay stubs, schedules and the names of supervisors involved. Records made at the time carry weight.
Check both state and federal rules
Federal law (the Fair Labor Standards Act) sets a floor. Where a state rule below is more protective, the state rule generally matters too.
Deadlines apply to wage and leave claims
Agency complaints and lawsuits have time limits. A lawyer licensed in the state can tell you which one applies to you.
Cities in Washington
For attorneys licensed in Washington
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