Wages in agriculture and non-agriculture employment:

Except where a higher minimum wage is required by federal or local jurisdictions, every employer shall pay:

• Minors under the age of 16 at least 85% of Washington State minimum wage.
• Sixteen- and 17 years-olds at least the current Washington State minimum wage.

Rest and meal breaks

Minors must be allowed a paid rest break, free from work duties. Employers can require workers to stay on the job site during a rest break. Rest breaks taken are considered “hours worked” when calculating wages, paid sick leave, and overtime.

Non-agriculture:

Sixteen- and 17-year-old minors must receive at least a 10-minute paid rest break when working shifts longer than 4 hours. Minors must not work more than 3 hours without receiving a rest break.

Sixteen- and 17-year-old minors must not work more than 5 consecutive hours without receiving a meal break. Meal breaks must be at least 30 minutes long and be uninterrupted. Meal breaks must be separate and distinct from rest breaks and must be provided in addition to rest breaks.

Minors under the age of 16 must receive at least a 10-minute paid rest break. The minor must not work more than 2 consecutive hours without receiving either a meal break or rest break.

Minors under the age of 16 must not work more than 4 consecutive hours without receiving a meal break. Meal breaks must last at least 30 minutes and must be uninterrupted. Meal breaks must be separate and distinct from rest breaks and must be provided in addition to rest breaks. Minors must not work more than 2 consecutive hours without receiving either a meal break or rest break.

Agriculture:

All minors must receive a rest break that’s at least 10 minutes long, on the business's time, for each 4-hour period of work.

All minors working more than 5 hours shall receive a meal break of at least 30 minutes. Employees working 11 or more hours in a day shall be allowed at least one additional 30-minute meal period.

Waivers

Minors cannot waive their rest or meal break requirements.

For non-agricultural rest and meal period requirements see WAC 296-125-111 and WAC 296-125-121.

For agricultural rest and meal period requirements see WAC 296-122-100.