January 1, 2026 minimum wage increase
Last updated: October 6, 2025
Effective January 1, 2026, the UW’s minimum wage will increase from $20.76 per hour to $21.30 per hour following the City of Seattle minimum wage. This change applies to all positions on the Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma campuses except for student assistants in Tacoma.
UWHR Compensation and UW-IT will centrally manage increases needed for any employee whose pay is below the new minimum wage as of 1/1/26. Employees brought up to the new minimum will see the increase on their 1/25/26 paycheck.
The range minimums for classified jobs will be brought up to the nearest step above the new minimum wage. For example, employees who are on the lowest step of the B4 (SEIU 925) or BI (WFSE) pay table will be moved up one step, from $3,688 per month ($21.28/hr) to $3,774 per month ($21.77/hr).
Exception for UW Tacoma student hourlies: UW Tacoma has been following the Washington State minimum wage schedule since 2015 for student hourlies. As of January 1, 2026, the Washington state minimum wage will increase from $16.66 an hour to $17.13 which will be the new minimum for Student Assistant UWT (job code 10888) and Student Assistant UWT – Grad (job code 10891).
Please plan for the budgetary impact of the new minimum wage. The UWHR Compensation office continually audits for employees paid below range minimum and works with departments and the UWHR on any necessary corrections.
Questions? Email uwhrcomp@uw.edu.