Washington Increases Earnings Thresholds for Noncompete Agreement Enforceability
Implementation Date: January 1, 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, the amount of minimum earnings required for a noncompete agreement to be enforceable in Washington is increased for inflation as follows:
- For employees - $126,858.83 (up from $123,394.17); and
- For independent contractors - $317,147.09 (up from $308,485.43).
The Washington Department of Labor and Industry determines the adjustment based on the change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), calculated to the nearest cent.
Washington Department of Labor and Industries Notice.