The federal minimum wage will remain at $7.25 per hour.
Changes to the Federal Salary Threshold for Overtime Exempt Employees
A ruling by a Texas district court overturned the Department of Labor’s increases to the federal minimum salary threshold level for exempt employees. Accordingly, for 2025, employees subject to the federal salary threshold level need only earn at least $684 per week ($35,568 per year) in order to be exempt. Employees exempt under the “highly compensated employee” exemption must earn at least $107,432.00 per year. This change does not affect most employers in Washington, as the Washington minimum salary threshold for exempt employees remains above the federal minimum. State law minimum levels are not affected by the Texas decision and employers must continue to meet the higher of either the federal minimum or state minimum.