Mayor Harrell Statement on Minimum Wage Increase

Seattle - Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell released the following statement after the Office of Labor Standards announced the 2025 minimum wage increase and structure:

"Seattle has one of the highest minimum wages in the country - this is a good thing for workers, a good thing for our overall economy, and something we should take pride in. As one of the leading members of the original team who developed Seattle's groundbreaking minimum wage legislation, my mission is the same now as it was then - ensuring Seattle is both a great place for workers and a great place for small businesses.

"On January 1, the temporary tip credit for small businesses will expire, as determined by the law passed in 2014. While this is the right thing for wage fairness, we recognize it will present a significant change for many small businesses who are still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic and the resulting record inflation.

"Our office convened discussions to help address the concerns of all stakeholders. As the tip credit expires, we are committed to aggressively addressing many of the pressures facing small restaurants moving forward - from public safety to inflation, insurance, and a wide array of other cost pressures, including best practices in addressing the absence of a tip credit.

"I will be continuing our conversations with small businesses to identify tangible and actionable ways we can help make Seattle more affordable. We want successful, prosperous, and vibrant small businesses and entrepreneurs in our city, and we are committed to addressing these challenges, keeping existing small businesses here in Seattle, and ensuring this is a place where anyone has the opportunity to start a small business and succeed."

Learn more about Seattle's 2025 minimum wage here.