Minimum wage jumping Jan. 1

TUMWATER – The state’s minimum wage will jump 54 cents per hour on Jan. 1.

On Friday, Sept. 29, the state Department of Labor and Industries announced it will raise the minimum wage from $15.74 per hour to $16.28 per hour effective Jan. 24.

That’s an increase of $4.28 per hour in the last five years.

According to agency officials, Labor and Industries establishes the rate based on the urban consumer price index.

The new wages apply to all workers ages 16 and older.

State law allows for a “training wage” of $13.84 per hour for workers ages 14-15.

The change in the minimum wage also means a chan...