With the new year comes new minimum wage requirements across Washington State. These new requirements create new exemption amounts for garnishments . The exemption amount varies based on the type of debt being garnished.
These amounts only apply to wage garnishments and are irrelevant for ongoing (as opposed to delinquent) child support being enforced.
Highest minimum wage in the state - private student loans
Seatac once more has the maintains the lead in 2024 with highest wage in the State at $19.71 per hour as a generally applicable highest minimum wage. However, it is unclear if that amount will control or if Seattle's 2024 ordinance of $19.97 for large employers should control . This issue has never been determined before. This controls the exemption amount for private student loan collection which is calculated at either 85% or 50x the highest minimum wage in the state. Collection agencies and those regularly collecting on private student loan debt should consider using caution and adopting the following exemption amounts representing the Seattle large employer rate:
