SeaTac minimum wage: $20.74/hr. Hospitality & transportation only.
SeaTac's minimum wage is $20.74/hr effective January 1, 2026 — but it applies only to hospitality and transportation industry employers. Other SeaTac businesses follow the Washington state minimum wage ($17.13). The narrow industry scope makes SeaTac different from every other WA city — it's not a general-purpose minimum wage but a sector-specific premium for the airport-adjacent workforce. SeaTac's rate was originally set by Initiative 1 in 2013 and indexed to CPI-W annually since.
SeaTac Industry-Specific Minimum Wage
Applies $20.74 to hospitality and transportation workers in SeaTac. Other SeaTac workers default to state floor. Industry-classification driven.
What those rules do for SeaTac workers.
The hero card configuration: Block on below-floor, Flag on industry rationale.
When a hospitality or transportation worker in SeaTac is paid below $20.74, save fails. Other SeaTac workers (retail, professional services, etc.) get the state $17.13 floor.
Teambridge surfaces the industry classification (hospitality vs. transportation vs. other) and the resulting controlling rate. Helps operators understand why a SeaTac retail clerk gets $17.13 while a SeaTac airport hotel worker gets $20.74.
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SeaTac Municipal Code 7.45 — Initiative 1 (2013).
SeaTac's industry-specific minimum wage was the first $15 minimum wage in the U.S. when passed in 2013. The narrow scope (hospitality and transportation only) reflects the political deal that got the initiative passed — it specifically targets the airport-adjacent workforce.
Industry scope
SeaTac's $20.74 minimum applies to hospitality and transportation workers. Hospitality includes hotels, restaurants, food service, and related airport services. Transportation includes ground transportation services and airport-related work. Retail, professional services, healthcare, and other sectors in SeaTac follow the Washington state minimum ($17.13).
Industry classification matters
Industry classification per worker drives the applicable rate. A SeaTac restaurant worker = $20.74. A SeaTac dental office receptionist = $17.13. A SeaTac airport shuttle driver = $20.74. A SeaTac retail clerk = $17.13. Operators with mixed-industry SeaTac operations need precise per-worker classification.
Teambridge classifies SeaTac workers by industry, applies the right rate.
SeaTac's industry-specific scope is the most operationally distinct feature among WA cities. Mixed-industry operators need to classify each worker correctly — a misclassification creates real exposure.
Hospitality / transportation / other.
Each SeaTac worker is classified by industry at hire. The classification determines whether $20.74 or $17.13 applies.
Industry-aware floor.
Every SeaTac shift validates against the worker's industry-classified rate.
January 1 batch.
Hospitality and transportation SeaTac workers below $20.74 surface for batch uplift on January 1. Other SeaTac workers track state increases.
Edge case detection.
Workers with mixed-industry duties (e.g., an airport hotel concierge who also drives shuttle) need careful classification. Teambridge surfaces these for operator review.
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