Unpaid Wage Cases in Washington

In Washington, the typical back pay per worker was $741, based on 2,249 cases from the U.S. Department of Labor. That is 29% more than the national figure of $576, the 12th highest of 51 states.

$741typical (median)
$2,445average
2,249cases
12thof 51 states

By year By industry Washington vs. other states

What the Records Show for Washington

Each public source on its own, with the typical amount, the middle half of all cases and the trend by year.

U.S. Department of Labor, per worker · 2000–2026
$741typical back pay per worker (median). Half of all cases were between $226 and $2,290.
Cases
2,249
Total paid
$5.5 million
Top 10% above
$5,308
All states
$576
Typical amount by year
2025: $1,414 typical, 13 cases
$2K$4K$6K
Tap or drag across the chart to read a year. Years with at least 5 cases.
The same federal wage cases, counted per worker: each case's back wages divided by the number of workers owed.
U.S. Department of Labor · 2000–2026
$5,113typical back pay per case (median). Half of all cases were between $1,155 and $21,443.
Cases
2,249
Total paid
$75.1 million
Top 10% above
$67,007
All states
$4,412
Typical amount by year
2025: $12,078 typical, 13 cases
$5K$10K$15K
Tap or drag across the chart to read a year. Years with at least 5 cases.
Back wages employers were found to owe their workers in federal wage-and-hour cases, per case.
Seattle Office of Labor Standards · 2016–2026
$13,935typical case (median). Half of all cases were between $1,432 and $92,374.
Cases
312
Total paid
$68.2 million
Top 10% above
$332,314
All states
$13,935
Typical amount by year
2026: $1,278 typical, 20 cases
$50K$100K$150K
Tap or drag across the chart to read a year. Years with at least 5 cases.
Back pay and damages recovered for workers under Seattle's labor laws.

These are cases the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division concluded, with the back wages it found employers owed. Cases handled only by a state labor agency or in a private lawsuit are not included.

In total, $5.5 million was recorded across 2,249 cases. One in ten was $5,308 or more.

Back Pay in Washington by Industry

The industry the Department of Labor recorded for the employer, with the most cases first.

Back Pay in Washington by Industry
Industry	Typical in Washington	All states
Restaurants and hotels488 cases	$776	$414
Health care and social assistance357 cases	$674	$415
Construction353 cases	$801	$800
Staffing, cleaning and other support services172 cases	$744	$561
Retail171 cases	$466	$575
Professional and technical services124 cases	$2,314	$1,219
Agriculture119 cases	$288	$303
Transportation and warehousing81 cases	$1,145	$913
Repair, personal and other services74 cases	$1,205	$661
Manufacturing68 cases	$572	$779

10 more groups have too few cases in Washington for a typical amount or fewer cases than those shown.

How Washington Compares With Other States

Typical amount in every state from the same source. Across all states: $576.

Typical unpaid wage cases by state. Darker states have higher typical amounts.

under $412
$412–$457
$457–$543
$543–$743
$743 and up

All 51 states, ranked

About These Numbers

Where the figures come from, how we counted, and how to use them.

U.S. Department of Labor, per worker: The same federal wage cases, counted per worker: each case's back wages divided by the number of workers owed.
U.S. Department of Labor: Back wages employers were found to owe their workers in federal wage-and-hour cases, per case.
Seattle Office of Labor Standards: Back pay and damages recovered for workers under Seattle's labor laws.
Typical is the median: half of the records are below it, half above. The average is the total divided by the number of records; a few very large amounts pull it up.
Not adjusted for inflation. Each amount is counted in the year the source gives for it.

How the explorer counts, source by source

Download the full data set (CSV)

Public records as of October 15, 2026. You can use these figures; please link to this page. $741 is rounded on the map; the tables show exact amounts.

Questions About Unpaid Wage Cases in Washington

Answers from the same records.

How much back pay do workers get in Washington wage cases?

In 2,249 federal wage cases in Washington from 2000 to 2026, the typical worker was owed $741 in back pay. For half of all cases, the amount per worker was between $226 and $2,290. Per case, for all workers of one employer together, the typical amount was $5,113.

Which industries have the most wage cases in Washington?

Restaurants and hotels (488, typical $776); Health care and social assistance (357, typical $674); Construction (353, typical $801). The industry is the one the agency recorded for the employer.

How does Washington compare with other states?

Washington ranks 12th highest of 51 states for the typical amount. Across all states it was $576, so Washington is 29% higher.

Have amounts in Washington changed over time?

In 2025, the typical amount was $1,414 (13 cases), compared with $977 in 2015. Amounts are not adjusted for inflation.

What is not included in these numbers?

More Records for Washington

Other kinds of cases in this state, a calculator for your own case, and the studies behind the numbers.

Other records for Washington

Calculators and studies