What’s behind Washington’s 2013 minimum wage increase

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) just announced a 15-cent bump to Washington’s 2013 minimum wage – to $9.19 per hour, or just over $19,000 for a full-time worker.

The reason for the increase? A 1998 voter-approved initiative that pegs increases in Washington’s minimum wage to inflation. The measure effectively took minimum wage increases – always a political “hot potato” – out of legislative hands, ensuring the wages of Washington’s lowest paid workers would no longer lose ground to inflation.

Per the terms of the law, L&I calculates the increase using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), which measures inflation for “Urban Consumers”. Thanks largely to higher gas prices, the CPI-U increased 1.7 percent. Costs for food, shelter, medical care, personal care, new vehicles, and recreation also rose (albeit much less than gas), more than offsetting price declines for used cars and trucks, apparel, household furnishings and operations, and airline fares.

Of this year’s 15-cent increase in Washington’s minimum wage, $0.12 is due to higher gas prices. The remaining $0.03 reflects other price increases.

  • Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More To Read

February 11, 2025

The rising cost of health care is unsustainable and out of control

We have solutions that put people over profits

January 29, 2025

Who is left out of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act?

Strengthening job protections gives all workers time they need to care for themselves and their families

January 17, 2025

A look into the Department of Revenue’s Wealth Tax Study

A wealth tax can be reasonably and effectively implemented in Washington state