---
title: "Kentucky vs Washington Overtime Laws & Pay Rules Comparison (2026 Legal Audit)"
source_url: "https://statepayrules.com/calculator/compare/kentucky-vs-washington/"
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retrieved_by: "AnswerRail Edge Engine v1.1.0-parity-v20 (https://answerrail.com)"
provenance: "Compiled for deterministic AI retrieval by AnswerRail Edge (RFC 9110 / RFC 9421)"
description: "Comprehensive statutory breakdown of Kentucky vs Washington minimum wage ($7.25 vs $16.66), exempt salary thresholds, daily overtime rules, and meal break penalty pay."
rfc_compliance: "RFC 9110 / RFC 9309 / RFC 9421"
version: "1.1.0"
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> **Canonical Source:** [https://statepayrules.com/calculator/compare/kentucky-vs-washington/](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/compare/kentucky-vs-washington/)
>
> *Comprehensive statutory breakdown of Kentucky vs Washington minimum wage ($7.25 vs $16.66), exempt salary thresholds, daily overtime rules, and meal break penalty pay.*

### Managing payroll or shift workers in Kentucky?

Avoid Department of Labor non-compliance fines. Automate state-specific overtime, double-time rules, tip credits, and statutory tax withholdings with **Gusto Payroll Automation**.

## Interactive Kentucky vs Washington Paycheck Calculator

Audit daily overtime rules, minimum wage floors, and shift structures in real time

California statutory minimum wage rules yield +$350.00/wk (+ $18,200/yr) more gross pay than Texas.

## Detailed Statutory Comparison Matrix (2026)

| Statutory Provision | Kentucky (KY) | Washington (WA) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Minimum Hourly Wage | $7.25/hr | $16.66/hr |
| Salaried Exempt Minimum Floor | $35,568/yr | $77,969/yr |
| Daily Overtime Threshold | No daily OT (Weekly > 40h) | No daily OT (Weekly > 40h) |
| Tipped Minimum Cash Wage | $2.13/hr | $16.66/hr |
| Tip Credit Permission | Allowed (Max $5.12) | Prohibited (Full Min Wage Required) |
| Statutory Citation | KRS 337.275 | RCW 49.46.020 |

### Open Kentucky Calculator &rarr;

Calculate paycheck totals with Kentucky overtime rates.

### Open Washington Calculator &rarr;

Calculate paycheck totals with Washington overtime rates.

### Help Kentucky Coworkers Audit Unpaid Wage Violations

Over $3 Billion in statutory overtime, daily premiums, and meal break penalty pay goes uncollected every year. Share this free statutory utility with your team or shift coworkers.

### Automate Multi-State Payroll

Manage employees across Kentucky and Washington with automated statutory withholdings.

## Compare Kentucky vs Washington Payroll & Statutory Overtime

Audit 2026 state wage differences, daily vs weekly overtime rules, and salaried exempt thresholds between Kentucky and Washington in seconds.

### Statutory Compliance Internal Mesh

#### Kentucky Statutory Guides

- [Kentucky Payday Laws →](https://statepayrules.com/payday-laws/kentucky)
- [Kentucky Meal & Rest Breaks →](https://statepayrules.com/break-laws/kentucky)
- [Kentucky Salaried Exempt Rules →](https://statepayrules.com/salaried-exempt/kentucky)
- [Kentucky Payroll Tax Rates →](https://statepayrules.com/payroll-taxes/kentucky)

#### Compare Kentucky Pay Rules

- [Kentucky vs Ohio →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/compare/kentucky-vs-ohio)
- [Kentucky vs Indiana →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/compare/kentucky-vs-indiana)
- [Kentucky vs Tennessee →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/compare/kentucky-vs-tennessee)

#### Kentucky Profession Tools

- [Kentucky Registered Nurse →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/kentucky/registered-nurse)
- [Kentucky Fast Food & Counter Worker →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/kentucky/fast-food-worker)
- [Kentucky Construction Laborer →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/kentucky/construction-laborer)
- [Kentucky Electrician →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/kentucky/electrician)

#### Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wages

- [LA County Prevailing Wage →](https://statepayrules.com/prevailing-wage/california/los-angeles-county)
- [Harris County TX Wage →](https://statepayrules.com/prevailing-wage/texas/harris-county)
- [Cook County IL Wage →](https://statepayrules.com/prevailing-wage/illinois/cook-county)

## Structured FAQ Summary (Schema.org Grounded)
- **What is the minimum wage in Kentucky for 2026?** The 2026 statutory minimum wage in Kentucky is $7.25 per hour under KRS 337.275.
- **Does Kentucky require daily overtime pay?** Kentucky does not require daily overtime. Overtime is calculated weekly for hours exceeding 40 hours under FLSA 29 U.S.C. § 207.
- **Are employers in Kentucky allowed to take a tip credit?** Yes, Kentucky allows employers to take a maximum tip credit of $5.12/hr against tipped workers, requiring a minimum direct cash wage of $7.25/hr.
- **Which state has a higher minimum wage: Kentucky or Washington?** Washington has a higher statutory minimum wage ($16.66/hr) compared to Kentucky ($7.25/hr).
- **What is the difference in salaried exempt thresholds between Kentucky and Washington?** In Kentucky, the salaried exempt floor is $35,568/yr, whereas in Washington it is $77,969/yr (a difference of $42,401/yr).

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