Washington’s minimum wage has increased to $8.07 per hour

Washington’s hourly minimum wage has increased from $7.93 to $8.07, effective January 1st, 2008. According to the law, the state minimum wage must be adjusted each year complying with the change in the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) during the 12 months ending each August 31.

The CPI-W is a national index covering the cost of goods and services needed for day-to-day living. This year, it increased 1.8 percent in the period and led to a 14-cent increase in next year's minimum wage, which equals to an increase from current $7.93 per hour to $8.07 per hour.