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Bellingham, Washington · OFFICIAL SOURCES & THRESHOLDS

Bellingham, Washington
Minimum wage.

Check official requirements, employee thresholds, effective dates, and employer responsibilities for minimum wage.

Notice: General informational guidance, not legal advice. Read the full legal disclaimer. Federal, state, and municipal regulations operate concurrently.
Part of Washington Employment Compliance

Municipal ordinances operate concurrently with state and federal labor laws.

Washington Minimum wage → All Washington Rules →

Separate Bellingham rules

Minimum wage · BellinghamChanged recently

Bellingham minimum wage

$19.13 per hour

The minimum wage in Bellingham is $19.13 per hour in 2026, set at $2.00 above the Washington state minimum wage, for all employers in the city, per the City of Bellingham.

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in Bellingham · All industries
Effective
Jan 1, 2026
Official source: City of Bellingham — City Minimum Wage Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.

Applicable state and federal rules

These are state or federal requirements that may also apply within Bellingham. Each entry remains labeled with its own jurisdiction and source.

Minimum wage · United StatesChanged recently

United States minimum wage

$7.25 per hour

The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in United States · All industries
Effective
Jul 24, 2009
Official source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.
Minimum wage · WashingtonChanged recently

Washington minimum wage

$17.13 per hour

The minimum wage in Washington is $17.13 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table.

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in Washington · All industries
Effective
Jan 1, 2026

Local notes & what to do

Washington has the highest state minimum wage in the country ($17.13 in 2026) and allows no tip credit. Its exempt salary threshold is also the nation's highest - $80,168.40 in 2026, set at 2.25 times the minimum wage at every employer size and scheduled to reach 2.5 times in 2028. Paid family and medical leave premiums rose to 1.13% of wages in 2026, with a maximum weekly benefit of $1,647. Several Puget Sound cities set wages well above the state rate.

Official source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.

City, state, and federal: which rate wins?

The highest applicable minimum wage generally governs; coverage, industry, and employee headcount thresholds still matter. There is no single winning rate for every employer.

Compare every applicable layer in the threshold table below. Use the checker to filter by your business size and industry.

Thresholds, dates & upcoming changes

Jurisdiction / rule Requirement Employees / industry Effective / status Official source / last checked
United States
United States minimum wage 		$7.25 per hour 0–any employees
All industries 		Jul 24, 2009
Current 		U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act
Checked Nov 1, 2026
Washington
Washington minimum wage 		$17.13 per hour 0–any employees
All industries 		Jan 1, 2026
Current 		U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table
Checked Nov 1, 2026
Bellingham
Bellingham minimum wage 		$19.13 per hour 0–any employees
All industries 		Jan 1, 2026
Current 		City of Bellingham — City Minimum Wage
Checked Nov 1, 2026
THE DATED RECORD

What changed in Bellingham, Washington?

Washington · Minimum wage

Local guidance changed from not previously published to Washington has the highest state minimum wage in the country ($17.13 in 2026) and allows no tip credit. Its exempt salary threshold is also the nation's highest - $80,168.40 in 2026, set at 2.25 times the minimum wage at every employer size and scheduled to reach 2.5 times in 2028. Paid family and medical leave premiums rose to 1.13% of wages in 2026, with a maximum weekly benefit of $1,647. Several Puget Sound cities set wages well above the state rate..

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table · Effective Jan 1, 2026 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026 · View current requirement →

Bellingham · Minimum wage

Rule name changed from not previously published to Bellingham minimum wage. Summary changed from not previously published to The minimum wage in Bellingham is $19.13 per hour in 2026, set at $2.00 above the Washington state minimum wage, for all employers in the city, per the City of Bellingham.. Requirement changed from not previously published to $19.13 per hour. Numeric amount changed from not previously published to 19.13. Minimum employer size changed from not previously published to 0 employees. Effective date changed from not previously published to Jan 1, 2026. Publication status changed from not previously published to active. Industry coverage changed from not previously published to not published.

Source: City of Bellingham — City Minimum Wage · Effective Jan 1, 2026 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026 · View current requirement →

United States · Minimum wage

Rule name changed from not previously published to United States minimum wage. Summary changed from not previously published to The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).. Requirement changed from not previously published to $7.25 per hour. Numeric amount changed from not previously published to 7.25. Minimum employer size changed from not previously published to 0 employees. Effective date changed from not previously published to Jul 24, 2009. Publication status changed from not previously published to active. Industry coverage changed from not previously published to not published.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act · Effective Jul 24, 2009 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026

Washington · Minimum wage

Rule name changed from not previously published to Washington minimum wage. Summary changed from not previously published to The minimum wage in Washington is $17.13 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table.. Requirement changed from not previously published to $17.13 per hour. Numeric amount changed from not previously published to 17.13. Effective date changed from not previously published to Jan 1, 2026. Publication status changed from not previously published to active. Minimum employer size changed from not previously published to 0 employees. Industry coverage changed from not previously published to not published.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table · Effective Jan 1, 2026 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026 · View current requirement →
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions employers ask about Minimum wage in Bellingham, Washington

What is the United States minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$7.25 per hour. The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).

When did United States minimum wage take effect?

Effective July 24, 2009. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow United States minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in United States across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating United States minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

What is the Washington minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$17.13 per hour. The minimum wage in Washington is $17.13 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table.

When did Washington minimum wage take effect?

Effective January 1, 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow Washington minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in Washington across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating Washington minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

What is the Bellingham minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$19.13 per hour. The minimum wage in Bellingham is $19.13 per hour in 2026, set at $2.00 above the Washington state minimum wage, for all employers in the city, per the City of Bellingham.

When did Bellingham minimum wage take effect?

Effective January 1, 2026. Source: City of Bellingham — City Minimum Wage. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow Bellingham minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in Washington across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating Bellingham minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

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