Minimum Wage Comparison
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Oregon vs Washington: Minimum Wage

Washington has a higher minimum wage than Oregon by $1.

Oregon flag
Oregon
OR • West
$15.95/hr
State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).
Washington flag
Washington
WA • West
Winner
$16.66/hr
State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).

Visual Comparison

Oregon $15.95/hr
Washington $16.66/hr

Difference: $1 — Washington leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for minimum wage.

Oregon #6 · $15.95/hr
Washington #1 · $16.66/hr
Lowest Highest

Top 10 States — Minimum Wage

#1 Washington flag Washington
$16.66/hr
#2 California flag California
$16.50/hr
#3 New York flag New York
$16.50/hr
#4 Connecticut flag Connecticut
$16.35/hr
#5 Hawaii flag Hawaii
$16.00/hr
#6 Oregon flag Oregon
$15.95/hr
#7 New Jersey flag New Jersey
$15.49/hr
#8 Illinois flag Illinois
$15.00/hr
#9 Maryland flag Maryland
$15.00/hr
#10 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
$15.00/hr

Oregon ranks 6th and Washington ranks 1st nationally for minimum wage.

Related Context

Minimum Wage in Context

A minimum wage only makes sense relative to what things cost and what the local market actually pays.

What This Means

Oregon vs Washington: Minimum Wage in context

Washington has a minimum wage of $16.66/hr, compared with $15.95/hr in Oregon. State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).

Oregon
$15.95/hr
Washington
$16.66/hr
Difference
$1

People Also Ask

Oregon vs Washington Minimum Wage — Common Questions

Q What is Oregon's minimum wage?

Oregon's minimum wage is $15.95/hr.

Q What is Washington's minimum wage?

Washington's minimum wage is $16.66/hr.

Q Which state has a higher minimum wage — Oregon or Washington?

Washington has a higher minimum wage than Oregon by $1.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.