The Burien City Council recently passed an ordinance that establishes its own minimum wage. The rate applies to all nonexempt (overtime-eligible) employees physically working in Burien for employers with 21 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees in King County. The required minimum wage depends on the size of the employer. Beginning January 1, 2025, the minimum wage rates in Burien are:
- Level 1 employers (all employers, including franchisees, with more than 500 FTEs in King County or franchisors who employ more than 500 FTEs in the aggregate): Washington’s statewide minimum wage plus $3.00. (Note: The ordinance fails to say what category an employer with exactly 500 FTEs falls into.)
- Level 2 employers (all employers, including franchisees, that employ 21 to 499 FTEs in King County): Washington’s statewide minimum wage plus $2.00.
Burien’s wage ordinance doesn’t apply to employers with 20 or fewer FTEs, also known as Level 3 employers. Level 1 and Level 2 employers have the option to count tips and medical benefits plan expenses toward the additional $3.00 or $2.00 requirement. Employees who normally work outside Burien are covered by the ordinance in a two-week period if they work more than two hours within the city limits during that period. The ordinance directs the City to create a minimum wage poster, which employers will have to prominently display once the ordinance becomes effective.
Tips: In addition to Burien, the cities of Bellingham, Renton, Seattle, SeaTac, and Tukwila have all established their own minimum wage rates that are above the statewide rate in Washington. You must pay employees at the highest minimum rate that applies to them. You may also need to determine how such minimum wage increases will affect your ability to recruit for entry-level positions in nearby areas, even when their rate exceeds the state’s minimum wage.
As we previously reported, the statewide minimum wage rate for nonexempt (overtime-eligible) workers is $16.28 per hour during the 2024 calendar year. Details are available on the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) minimum wage webpage. L&I is expected to announce the statewide 2025 rate in late September. If you have questions about the applicability and requirements of any local minimum wage ordinances, contact your Vigilant Law Group employment attorney.
