City Minimum Wages for 2027: Verified Rates and Which Ones Change When
Short answer: On January 1, 2027, Washington cities lead the country: Burien $22.49 and Tukwila $22.45 (both read on the city's own site) and Seattle $22.14. Denver is $19.84, Minneapolis $17.02. Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco do not change on January 1; they adjust each July 1.
Rates taking effect January 1, 2027
| City | 2027 rate | Full-time pay | Who it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $22.14 | $46,051 | All covered employers | Seattle Office of Labor Standards |
| Tukwila, WA | $22.45 | $46,696 | Employers with 15+ employees worldwide or over $2M Tukwila revenue | City of Tukwila |
| Burien, WA | $22.49 | $46,779 | Large and medium employers; small employers (15 or fewer) $20.49 | City of Burien |
| Renton, WA | $22.28 | $46,342 | Large and midsize employers; smaller employers pay the state rate | Miller Nash LLP (law firm) (secondary: verify) |
| SeaTac, WA | $21.47 | $44,658 | Hospitality and transportation employees only | Miller Nash LLP / Bloomberg Tax (secondary: verify) |
| Unincorporated King County, WA | $21.57 | $44,866 | Larger employers; smallest employers $19.57 | Miller Nash LLP (law firm) (secondary: verify) |
| Everett, WA | $21.52 | $44,762 | Employers with 500+ employees from July 1, 2027; $20.52 for mid-size employers Jan. 1 – June 30 | Miller Nash LLP (law firm) (secondary: verify) |
| Bellingham, WA | $19.73 | $41,038 | Set $2.00 above the state rate each year (2023 initiative) | My Bellingham Now (news) (secondary: verify) |
| Denver, CO | $19.84 | $41,267 | All employees working in Denver | Denver Auditor's Office |
| Minneapolis, MN | $17.02 | $35,402 | All employers | City of Minneapolis |
| Saint Paul, MN | $17.02 | $35,402 | Large and macro (101+); small (6–100) $16.37, micro (≤5) $14.25 until July 1 | City of Saint Paul |
| New York City, NY | $17.00 | $35,360 | State rate for NYC, Long Island and Westchester; no change | NY State Department of Labor |
Full-time pay is the rate × 2,080 hours, before taxes. "Official" means we read the figure on the city or state agency's own page; "secondary" means a law-firm or news report only.
Big cities that change on July 1 instead
These cities index their minimum wage on a July 1 cycle, so nothing changes on January 1, 2027. Their current rates, from each city's own site:
| City | Rate since July 1, 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $17.05 | Employers with 4+ employees; tipped workers $12.96 |
| San Francisco, CA | $19.61 | Current rate from July 1, 2026 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $18.42 | Current rate from July 1, 2026 |
Read the details, including Chicago's tipped rate and Los Angeles's February 1 announcement date, on Minimum wage changes on July 1, 2027.
How to find your local rate
- Work location decides, not employer address. Minneapolis and Denver apply to work performed inside the city; Minneapolis applies once an employee works two hours in a calendar week there.
- Employer size often matters. Tukwila, Burien and Saint Paul have size-based coverage or tiers.
- The higher rate wins. If a city rate exceeds the state rate, the city rate applies for work done in the city.
Renton, SeaTac, unincorporated King County, Everett and Bellingham are reported by law-firm and news sources that agree with each other, but we could not read the cities' own pages. Confirm with the city before paying or advertising a wage.
Frequently asked questions
Which cities have the highest minimum wage in 2027?
Among the cities we verified, Burien ($22.49 for large employers) and Tukwila ($22.45) are highest, followed by Seattle ($22.14). Several other King County jurisdictions are in the $21–22 range, though some of those figures come from secondary sources.
Do Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago change on January 1, 2027?
No. Their city minimum wages adjust on July 1 of each year. Their current rates are $18.42 (Los Angeles), $19.61 (San Francisco) and $17.05 (Chicago, employers with 4+ employees); the July 2027 rates have not been announced.
What about New York City?
New York City does not have its own separate rate. The state's rate for NYC, Long Island and Westchester stays $17.00 in 2027.
What about Bellevue, Washington?
We did not find a local minimum wage ordinance for Bellevue, so the Washington state rate of $17.73 appears to apply. This is a negative finding we could not confirm on a city page, so check with the city before relying on it.
Why are some cities marked secondary?
Some city websites blocked our automated reading or did not publish the 2027 figure where we could see it. For those we cite a law-firm or news report and label the figure as secondary. Verify with the city before using it for payroll.
Sources and citations
Every dollar figure on this page was checked against the official pages below on November 14, 2026. If an agency updates its guidance, the agency page controls.
- Seattle Office of Labor Standards: Seattle's 2027 minimum wage announcement (Sept. 28, 2026)
- City of Tukwila: Labor Standards, Minimum Wage Ordinance
- City of Burien: Minimum Wage
- City and County of Denver (Auditor's Office): Denver's Minimum Wage
- City of Minneapolis: Minimum Wage
- City of Saint Paul (Sept. 1, 2026): Announcing Saint Paul minimum wage rates for 2027
- City of Chicago: Minimum Wage
- City of Los Angeles Office of Wage Standards: Announcements
- SF.gov: Minimum Wage Ordinance
- Miller Nash LLP: Washington State minimum wage updates for 2027, including local governments (secondary source)
- My Bellingham Now (Sept. 30, 2026): Bellingham's minimum wage to rise 60 cents in 2027 (news report)
- New York State Department of Labor: Minimum Wage