Washington State Wage Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate your gross earnings based on your hourly wage and hours worked per week in Washington State. This tool helps you understand your potential weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and annual income, including overtime pay according to Washington's standard rules.
Estimated Gross Earnings:
Regular Weekly Pay:
Overtime Weekly Pay:
Total Gross Weekly Pay:
Total Gross Bi-Weekly Pay:
Total Gross Monthly Pay:
Total Gross Annual Pay:
Understanding Wages in Washington State
Washington State has some of the most progressive wage laws in the United States, designed to ensure fair compensation for workers. This calculator helps you estimate your gross pay based on these regulations, but it's important to understand the underlying rules.
Washington State Minimum Wage
As of January 1, 2024, the statewide minimum wage in Washington is $16.28 per hour. This rate applies to most employees, with some exceptions. It's crucial for both employers and employees to be aware of this baseline. Some cities within Washington, such as Seattle and SeaTac, have even higher local minimum wages. This calculator uses the hourly wage you input, so if your wage is below the state minimum, it will still calculate based on your input, but you should be aware of your rights.
Overtime Rules in Washington
For most non-exempt employees in Washington, overtime pay is mandated for all hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. The standard overtime rate is one and a half times (1.5x) the employee's regular rate of pay. This calculator defaults to a 1.5x multiplier, but you can adjust it if your specific employment contract or collective bargaining agreement specifies a different rate (though 1.5x is the legal minimum for most cases).
It's important to note that certain employees are exempt from overtime laws, including some executive, administrative, and professional employees who meet specific salary and duty tests. This calculator assumes you are a non-exempt employee.
Gross vs. Net Pay
The figures provided by this calculator represent your gross pay. Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions are taken out. Your actual take-home pay, or net pay, will be less than your gross pay due to various deductions, which typically include:
- Federal Income Tax
- State Income Tax (Washington does not have a state income tax on wages)
- Social Security and Medicare (FICA taxes)
- Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) contributions
- Health insurance premiums
- Retirement contributions (e.g., 401k)
- Other voluntary deductions (e.g., union dues, garnishments)
This calculator does not account for these deductions, as they vary significantly based on individual circumstances and employer benefits.
Example Calculation:
Let's say an employee in Washington earns $20 per hour and works 45 hours in a week:
- Hourly Wage: $20.00
- Hours Worked Per Week: 45
- Overtime Multiplier: 1.5
- Regular Hours: 40
- Overtime Hours: 5 (45 – 40)
- Regular Weekly Pay: 40 hours * $20/hour = $800.00
- Overtime Weekly Pay: 5 hours * $20/hour * 1.5 = $150.00
- Total Gross Weekly Pay: $800.00 + $150.00 = $950.00
- Total Gross Bi-Weekly Pay: $950.00 * 2 = $1,900.00
- Total Gross Monthly Pay: $950.00 * (52/12) ≈ $4,116.67
- Total Gross Annual Pay: $950.00 * 52 = $49,400.00
This calculator provides a quick and easy way to perform these calculations for your specific situation, helping you better understand your potential earnings in Washington State.