Employers in Washington State: As of January 1, 2026 the minimum exempt salary threshold for employees is going up to $1,541.70 per week ($80,168.40 per year). 

Check out a full press release here from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, which also highlights the increase to minimum wage in Washington state next year: 25-27.

All employers should also remember:

  1. other states such as New York and California also have higher minimum exempt salary thresholds than federal law; and
  2. you must always follow a two-pronged analysis to determine classification, looking at both the salary test AND the duties test.