Washington · Tukwila · Updated April 2026

Tukwila minimum wage: $21.65 / $20.65. Size-tiered coverage.

Tukwila's minimum wage is $21.65/hr (large employers) or $20.65/hr (mid-size employers) effective January 1, 2026. Coverage applies based on worldwide employee count and Tukwila-revenue thresholds. Large employers (501+ employees worldwide, including franchise networks) pay the highest rate. Mid-size (16-500 employees worldwide, or 15+ employees with $2M+ Tukwila revenue) pay the lower tier. Small employers (15 or fewer employees AND under $2M Tukwila revenue) follow state minimum wage. Workers must perform 1+ hour in Tukwila in 2 weeks to be covered.

Large
$21.65
Mid-Size
$20.65
Small
State floor
Active

Tukwila Minimum Wage Routing

Calculates the applicable Tukwila rate based on employer size + revenue, applies to qualifying workers performing work in Tukwila. Annual January 1 batch uplift.

Block Tukwila shift below applicable floor
Surface size-tier classification rationale
Always running

What those rules do for Tukwila workers.

The hero card configuration: Block on below-floor, Flag on size-tier rationale.

Block · Tukwila shift below applicable rate

When a Tukwila worker is paid below the floor that applies to their employer's size tier, save fails. The shift card identifies the worker, the rate, and the size-tier basis (large vs. mid-size vs. small).

Flag · size-tier classification

Teambridge surfaces the size-tier classification with rationale: worldwide employee count, Tukwila gross revenue, franchise network status. Operators see why $21.65 vs. $20.65 vs. state floor applies.

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The rule, plainly stated

Tukwila Municipal Code 5.50 — three tiers of coverage.

Tukwila's minimum wage ordinance was passed by voters in 2022. It uses a different size-tier structure than Seattle (now unified) — Tukwila's three tiers create real variation depending on employer scale.

Tukwila Municipal Code 5.50: Effective January 1, 2026, the Tukwila minimum wage rate shall be $21.65 per hour for large employers (501+ employees worldwide), $20.65 per hour for mid-size employers (16-500 employees worldwide, or 15+ employees with $2M+ Tukwila revenue). Small employers (15 or fewer employees AND under $2M Tukwila revenue) shall pay the Washington state minimum wage rate.

Large employer tier ($21.65)

Employers with 501+ employees worldwide, including all franchisees in a franchise network with 500+ aggregate employees. The franchise aggregation is operationally significant: a 50-employee franchise location of a chain with 1,000+ aggregate franchise employees pays the large-employer rate, not the mid-size.

Mid-size tier ($20.65)

Employers with 16-500 employees worldwide, OR 15+ employees with at least $2 million annual gross revenue generated within Tukwila city limits. The dual test catches small chain locations that generate substantial revenue from Tukwila business.

On autopilot

Teambridge classifies size tier and applies the right Tukwila rate.

Tukwila's three-tier structure with franchise aggregation makes size classification non-trivial. Teambridge handles it at the employer level so per-shift rate calculation is automatic.

01 · Employer size classification

Worldwide count + Tukwila revenue.

At setup, Teambridge captures worldwide employee count, Tukwila revenue, and franchise network status (if applicable). The classification determines which of the three tiers applies.

02 · Per-shift rate enforcement

Tukwila workers get correct tier rate.

Every Tukwila shift validates against the size-tier-appropriate rate. Save below the rate fails.

03 · Cross-jurisdiction tracking

1-hour-in-2-weeks rule.

Workers who occasionally perform Tukwila work get the Tukwila rate for those hours when the 1-hour threshold is met.

04 · Annual uplift

January 1 batch per tier.

Tukwila rates adjust annually. Teambridge runs separate batch uplifts for the large-employer and mid-size-employer Tukwila buckets.

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FAQ

People also ask.

What is Tukwila's minimum wage in 2026?
$21.65/hr for large employers (501+ employees worldwide), $20.65/hr for mid-size employers (16-500 employees worldwide, or 15+ with $2M+ Tukwila revenue). Small employers follow the Washington state minimum ($17.13).
How is employer size determined?
Total worldwide employee count, including all franchisees in a franchise network. A 50-employee franchise location of a 1,000+ employee chain network pays the large-employer rate.
What about a 30-employee local business with $2.5M Tukwila revenue?
Mid-size tier ($20.65). The mid-size definition includes both 16-500 employees worldwide AND 15+ with $2M+ Tukwila revenue. A high-revenue local business meets the second prong even if its worldwide count is lower.
How is coverage determined?
Tukwila minimum wage applies to any worker performing at least 1 hour of work in Tukwila in any 2-week period. Lower threshold than Seattle's 2-hour rule.
Are tips counted toward the minimum?
No. Washington allows no tip credit, and Tukwila follows state law. Tipped workers earn the full applicable Tukwila rate in cash on top of tips.
How does Teambridge handle this?
Employer size + Tukwila revenue captured at setup. Per-shift rate enforcement automatically applies the correct tier. Annual uplifts run as separate batches per tier.