Are there any exceptions to the minimum wage law?

In Washington, there are a few limited exceptions to the minimum wage law. The first is for certain people employed in agriculture or horticulture. In these cases, the employer must pay at least the state minimum wage rate or the federal minimum wage rate (whichever is higher). Second, dependent children can be paid a lower wage rate than the state or federal minimum wage rate, as long as the job is suitable for someone of the child’s age and the rate of pay is not so low as to be detrimental to the child’s health and well-being. Finally, employers can pay a lower wage rate than the state or federal minimum wage rate to workers with disabilities who have been found to be unable to perform the specific job duties for which the employee was hired. However, in no case can employers pay disabled employees less than 85% of the current minimum wage rate. Additionally, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries may grant a waiver from the minimum wage law for certain employers in certain circumstances. These waivers must be approved by the director of the department and are typically granted only when necessary to prevent a substantial loss of employment for low-skilled workers.

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Are there any exceptions to the minimum wage law?

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