Are employers allowed to set a different hourly wage for part-time and full-time employees?

In Washington, employers are allowed to set different hourly wages for part-time and full-time employees, as long as the wages comply with the state’s minimum wage law. The current minimum wage in Washington is $13.50 per hour, though certain areas may require a higher minimum wage. If a part-time employee is covered by the minimum wage law, the employer must pay at least the minimum wage for part-time employees. However, the employer may choose to pay a higher wage if they wish. On the other hand, full-time employees must be paid the prevailing wage, which is typically higher than the state’s minimum wage. This means that an employer can legally set a different hourly wage for part-time and full-time employees. However, employers must ensure that they do not discriminate against part-time employees by offering a lower wage than they would offer a full-time employee for the same work. In Washington, employers must also pay employees overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 in one week, regardless of whether the employee is part-time or full-time. Overtime pay must be at least one and a half times the employee’s regular rate of pay. This means that if an employer pays different wages for part-time and full-time employees, they must pay the appropriate overtime rate for hours worked by both types of employees.

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Are employers allowed to set a different hourly wage for part-time and full-time employees?

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