Statewide floor
Alabama $7.25/hr vs Washington $17.13/hr
All minimum wage comparisons
vs
Washington +$9.88/hr · 2026
vsAlabama vs Washington Minimum Wage 2026
In 2026, Washington wins on the statewide minimum wage: $17.13/hour vs $7.25/hour in Alabama — a gap of $9.88/hour. At full-time (40 hrs/week), that is roughly $20,550.40 more gross income per year before taxes. This page compares floors, tip credits, local rates, and scheduled increases; use our hourly and tax calculators for take-home.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
$7.25Alabama
$17.13Washington
$9.88Hourly gap
$20,550.40FT annual gap
Washington wins · 2026
Washington
Winner$17.13/hr
$35,630.40/yr FT · effective January 1, 2026
Highest listed local: Seattle at $21.30/hr
Gap: $9.88/hr · $20,550.40/yr FT ($1,712.53/mo)
Why Washington wins
- Washington's statewide minimum is $9.88/hr higher ($17.13 vs $7.25).
- At 40 hours/week, that is about $20,550.40 more gross pay per year ($1,712.53/month).
- Alabama still uses the federal $7.25 floor; Washington sets its own higher rate.
- Washington does not allow a tip credit (full minimum before tips), while Alabama permits a lower tipped cash wage.
- Some Washington cities go even higher (e.g. Seattle at $21.30/hr).
Side-by-side metrics
| Metric | Alabama | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide minimum | $7.25/hr | $17.13/hr |
| FT annual gross (40×52) | $15,080.00 | $35,630.40 |
| vs federal floor | Uses federal | Above federal |
| Tip credit | Yes ($2.13 cash) | No tip credit |
| Local floors listed | 0 | 1 |
| Scheduled / indexed raises | None listed | None listed |
Pay by hours/week
Gross pay at each state's statewide minimum (before taxes).
| Hours | Alabama / wk | Washington / wk | Alabama / yr | Washington / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hrs | $145.00 | $342.60 | $7,540.00 | $17,815.20 |
| 30 hrs | $217.50 | $513.90 | $11,310.00 | $26,722.80 |
| 40 hrs | $290.00 | $685.20 | $15,080.00 | $35,630.40 |
Rate history 2020–2026
Official January 1 rates from the U.S. Department of Labor for Alabama vs Washington.
| Year | Alabama | Washington | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $7.25 | $17.13 | +$9.88 |
| 2025 | $7.25 | $16.66 | +$9.41 |
| 2024 | $7.25 | $16.28 | +$9.03 |
| 2023 | $7.25 | $15.74 | +$8.49 |
| 2022 | $7.25 | $14.49 | +$7.24 |
| 2021 | $7.25 | $13.69 | +$6.44 |
| 2020 | $7.25 | $13.50 | +$6.25 |
- Alabama: No state minimum wage; federal FLSA $7.25 applies to covered employees.
Source: DOL WHD historical tables (Jan 1 rates).
Pros & caveats
Alabama
Pros
Cons / caveats
- Lower state floor than Washington ($7.25 vs $17.13)
- Still on the federal $7.25 floor (unchanged since 2009)
- Tip credit allowed — cash wage can be as low as $2.13/hr if tips cover the gap
Washington
Pros
- Higher state floor ($17.13 vs $7.25)
- Above the federal $7.25 floor
- No tip credit — tipped staff earn the full state minimum before tips
- 1 local floor (up to $21.30 in Seattle)
Cons / caveats
- No automatic CPI schedule listed — raises need new legislation or ballots
Planning guide
How to read the Alabama vs Washington minimum wage comparison
Washington has the higher statewide minimum in 2026. Use tip credits, city floors, and take-home tools before deciding which corridor fits workers or payroll.
FT annual gap
$20,550.40/yr before taxes
Tip credits
Alabama: allowed · Washington: not allowed
Local floors
Alabama: 0 major · Washington: 1 major
Before you use this Alabama vs Washington wage gap
Confirm work location
Pay follows where hours are worked. City ordinances can exceed either statewide floor.
Separate tipped roles
Cash wages under a tip credit are not the full minimum until tips make up the difference.
Check effective dates
Rates are for 2026. Scheduled increases can change the gap mid-year.
Model take-home next
Convert hours with the hourly calculator, then compare state tax take-home for net pay.
Federal vs Alabama and Washington
The federal FLSA floor is a nationwide baseline. Workers get the highest of federal, state, or local rates that apply to their hours. This duel ranks statewide floors; local ordinances and tip credits can change the cash wage for specific jobs.
Overview
In 2026, Washington wins on the statewide minimum wage: $17.13/hour vs $7.25/hour in Alabama — a gap of $9.88/hour. At full-time (40 hrs/week), that is roughly $20,550.40 more gross income per year before taxes. This page compares floors, tip credits, local rates, and scheduled increases; use our hourly and tax calculators for take-home.
FAQ
Washington is higher at $17.13/hour versus $7.25 in Alabama ($9.88/hr gap).
About $20,550.40 more gross per year at 40 hrs/week ($1,712.53/month), before taxes and overtime.
Alabama: yes — tipped cash wage around $2.13/hr. Washington: no tip credit. Tips must still bring workers to the applicable minimum.
Alabama lists 0 major local floors. Washington lists 1 (highest Seattle at $21.30). Employers must pay the highest applicable federal, state, or local rate.
Alabama went from $7.25/hr (Jan 1 2020) to $7.25/hr (Jan 1 2026) (flat). Washington went from $13.50/hr to $17.13/hr (+$3.63/hr). Figures are official U.S. DOL January 1 rates.
Yes. Rates reflect our 2026 minimum wage tracker (last reviewed against DOL and state labor sources). Laws change on Jan 1 / Jul 1 often — verify with each state's labor agency before payroll changes.
Convert hours with our hourly salary calculator, then run the result through the US tax calculator (or each state's calculator) for federal, state, and FICA withholdings. Minimum wage figures here are gross floors, not net pay.
Not always. Washington has the higher legal floor, but state income tax, FICA, and cost of living can narrow or erase the net advantage. Model both states at the same hours with the tax tools.
Employers must pay the highest applicable rate for the hours worked in that jurisdiction. Compare Alabama and Washington state floors here, then check local ordinances on each state page.
The ladder shows weekly and annual gross at common hour counts using each state's statewide minimum. It helps translate the hourly gap into cash flow before taxes—overtime and tips are not included.
Use related links below, the reverse matchup (Washington vs Alabama), or the minimum wage compare hub picker for any two states.
Compare take-home too
Wage floors are only half the story. See state tax take-home comparisons for federal + state + FICA at the same salary.
Related calculators
Minimum Wage by State
All 51 rates & effective dates
Minimum Wage Canada Compare
Province vs province floors
Minimum Wage UK Compare
Age band vs age band floors
Minimum Wage Australia Compare
Band vs band floors
Minimum Wage Ireland Compare
Age band vs age band floors
Hourly to Salary Calculator
Convert wage to annual pay
US Tax Calculator
Take-home by state
Overtime Pay by State
Daily OT vs FLSA rankings