Overtime Pay in Washington
State-specific overview · Employment Law
Washington requires 1.5× pay for hours over 40 weekly and 1.5× for hours over 10 daily, whichever triggers first.
How Washington treats Overtime Pay
Washington State imposes both a weekly threshold (40 hours) and a daily threshold (10 hours per day) for overtime eligibility. Employees receive overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate when either threshold is exceeded in a single week. Washington also requires overtime pay for the first 4 hours of work on a seventh consecutive day in a workweek at the 1.5× rate, and hours beyond 4 on that day at double-time. The state's overtime rules are more protective than federal law and apply broadly across industries.
The general definition of Overtime Pay
Compensation at an increased rate for hours worked beyond the standard workweek, typically 1.5 times the regular wage.
Overtime pay is extra compensation that employers must provide when employees work more than a certain number of hours per week, usually 40 hours. Under federal law, overtime must be paid at one and a half times the employee's regular hourly rate (called "time and a half"). Some states require overtime for hours over 8 in a single day or for the seventh consecutive day worked. Certain employees, like managers and salaried professionals, may be exempt from overtime requirements. Employers who fail to pay overtime owe back wages plus penalties.
Read the full Overtime Pay entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Washington.