Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
OLYMPIA - As of Jan. 1, low-wage earners and some salaried employees are being paid more for their efforts on the job.
Across Eastern Washington and some areas west of the Cascades, the minimum wage increased 19 cents per hour, from $13.50 to $13,69, according to the state Department of Labor and Industries.
The minimum wage in the cities of Seattle and SeaTac increased to $16.69 per hour and $16.57, respectively, the agency said, noting those minimum wages are set by city ordinances.
Elsewhere in the state, the minimum wage is established under Revised Code of Washington 49.46.020(3).
New rules for salaried employees also mean higher wages for some workers who exceed 40 hours in a week.
Under the new law, salaried employees are required to make a minimum annual salary of $42,712.80, if they work for a company with 50 or less employees. That's 1.5 times more than the minimum wage, or $20.54 per hour.
For those working in larger companies, the minimum annual salary is $49,831.60. That's 1.75 times more than the minimum wage, or $23.96 per hour.
Non-commissioned workers making less than the salary threshold are now required to work 40 hours or less, or be paid overtime.
The new law also sets new minimum rates for computer programmers and system managers who are paid by the hour.
Those who work for companies with 50 employees or less are to be paid $37.65 per hour or 2.75 times the minimum wage, under the new law. Those who work for companies with more employees are required to be paid at least $47.92 per hour, or 3.5 times the minimum wage.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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