The turn of the calendar from December to January brought some good news for minimum wage workers in Washington state, including thousands of student employees at Washington State University.

Washington’s minimum wage increased by 2.8% at the start of 2026, raising the base pay to $17.13 per hour. The increase keeps Washington at the highest state minimum wage in the nation, up from $16.66 per hour in 2025.

WSU employs thousands of student workers across its six campuses, many of whom earn minimum wage. While the increase amounts to only a modest hourly raise, it can still make a difference for students balancing work, school and living expenses.

Hailey Mitchell, a receptionist at the University Recreation Center on WSU’s Pullman campus, said she welcomes the increase.

“I’ve worked here for a semester now, and I love it,” Mitchell said.

Although the raise is relatively small, Mitchell said the additional pay still adds up.

“I think it’s about 40 cents more an hour, but hey, any extra money is good money,” she said.

When asked how she plans to use the extra income, Mitchell said it will go toward basic expenses.

“My rent… definitely my rent,” she said.