Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026

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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2355-S.SL) ***

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Coercion" means a threat to compel or induce a person to engage in conduct which the person has a legal right to abstain from, or to abstain from conduct in which the person has a legal right to engage in;

(2) "Director" means the director of labor and industries;

(3) "Employ" includes to permit to work;

(4) "Employee" includes any individual employed by an employer but shall not include:

(a) Any individual (i) employed as a hand harvest laborer and paid on a piece rate basis in an operation which has been, and is generally and customarily recognized as having been, paid on a piece rate basis in the region of employment; (ii) who commutes daily from his or her permanent residence to the farm on which he or she is employed; and (iii) who has been employed in agriculture less than thirteen weeks during the preceding calendar year;

(b) Any individual employed in casual labor in or about a private home, unless performed in the course of the employer's trade, business, or profession;

(c) Any individual employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity or in the capacity of outside salesperson as those terms are defined and delimited by rules of the director. However, those terms shall be defined and delimited by the human resources director pursuant to chapter 41.06 RCW for employees employed under the director of personnel's jurisdiction;

(d) Any individual engaged in the activities of an educational, charitable, religious, state or local governmental body or agency, or nonprofit organization where the employer-employee relationship does not in fact exist or where the services are rendered to such organizations gratuitously. If the individual receives reimbursement in lieu of compensation for normally incurred out-of-pocket expenses or receives a nominal amount of compensation per unit of voluntary service rendered, an employer-employee relationship is deemed not to exist for the purpose of this section or for purposes of membership or qualification in any state, local government, or publicly supported retirement system other than that provided under chapter 41.24 RCW;

(e) Any individual employed full time by any state or local governmental body or agency who provides voluntary services but only with regard to the provision of the voluntary services. The voluntary services and any compensation therefor shall not affect or add to qualification, entitlement, or benefit rights under any state, local government, or publicly supported retirement system other than that provided under chapter 41.24 RCW;

(f) Any newspaper vendor, carrier, or delivery person selling or distributing newspapers on the street, to offices, to businesses, or from house to house and any freelance news correspondent or "stringer" who, using his or her own equipment, chooses to submit material for publication for free or a fee when such material is published;

(g) Any carrier subject to regulation by Part 1 of the Interstate Commerce Act;

(h) Any individual engaged in forest protection and fire prevention activities;

(i) Any individual employed by any charitable institution charged with child care responsibilities engaged primarily in the development of character or citizenship or promoting health or physical fitness or providing or sponsoring recreational opportunities or facilities for young people or members of the armed forces of the United States;

(j) Any individual whose duties require that he or she reside or sleep at the place of his or her employment or who otherwise spends a substantial portion of his or her work time subject to call, and not engaged in the performance of active duties;

(k) Any resident, inmate, or patient of a state, county, or municipal correctional, detention, treatment or rehabilitative institution;

(l) Any individual who holds a public elective or appointive office of the state, any county, city, town, municipal corporation or quasi municipal corporation, political subdivision, or any instrumentality thereof, or any employee of the state legislature;

(m) All vessel operating crews of the Washington state ferries operated by the department of transportation;

(n) Any individual employed as a seaman on a vessel other than an American vessel;

(o) Any farm intern providing his or her services to a small farm which has a special certificate issued under RCW 49.12.471;

(p) An individual who is at least 16 years old but under twenty-one years old, in his or her capacity as a player for a junior ice hockey team that is a member of a regional, national, or international league and that contracts with an arena owned, operated, or managed by a public facilities district created under chapter 36.100 RCW; or

(q) Any individual who has entered into a contract to play baseball at the minor league level and who is compensated pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement that expressly provides for wages and working conditions;

(5) "Employer" includes any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, or any person or group of persons acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee;

(6) "Occupation" means any occupation, service, trade, business, industry, or branch or group of industries or employment or class of employment in which employees are gainfully employed;

(7) "Retail or service establishment" means an establishment seventy-five percent of whose annual dollar volume of sales of goods or services, or both, is not for resale and is recognized as retail sales or services in the particular industry;

(8) "Threat" means any implicit or explicit communication specifically pertaining to an employee's or an employee's family member's immigration status that is made by the employer to deter an employee from engaging in protected activities or exercising a right under this chapter, chapter 49.12, 49.30, or 49.48 RCW, or any rules issued by the department of labor and industries pursuant to those chapters;

(9) "Wage" means compensation due to an employee by reason of employment, payable in legal tender of the United States or checks on banks convertible into cash on demand at full face value, subject to such deductions, charges, or allowances as may be permitted by rules of the director.

[ 2025 c 236 s 1; 2024 c 132 s 1; 2023 c 269 s 3; 2020 c 212 s 3. Prior: 2015 c 299 s 3; prior: (2014 c 131 s 2 expired December 31, 2019); 2013 c 141 s 1; prior: 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 462; (2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 461 expired December 31, 2011); prior: (2010 c 160 s 2 expired December 31, 2011); 2010 c 8 s 12040; 2002 c 354 s 231; 1997 c 203 s 3; 1993 c 281 s 56; 1989 c 1 s 1 (Initiative Measure No. 518, approved November 8, 1988); 1984 c 7 s 364; 1977 ex.s. c 69 s 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 289 s 1; 1974 ex.s. c 107 s 1; 1961 ex.s. c 18 s 2; 1959 c 294 s 1.]

Notes:

Reviser's note: The definitions in this section have been alphabetized pursuant to RCW 1.08.015(2)(k).

Rules—Effective date—2025 c 236: See notes following RCW 49.46.370.

Findings—Effective date—2023 c 269: See notes following RCW 49.12.471.

Effective date—2020 c 212: See note following RCW 49.12.471.

Expiration date—2017 c 150: "2014 c 131 s 2 expires December 31, 2019." [ 2017 c 150 s 3.]

Expiration date—2017 c 150; 2014 c 131: "This act expires December 31, 2019." [ 2017 c 150 s 2; 2014 c 131 s 5.]

Recognition—Intent—2015 c 299: See note following RCW 49.12.005.

Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 462: "Section 462 of this act takes effect December 31, 2011." [ 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 484.]

Expiration date—2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 461: "Section 461 of this act expires December 31, 2011." [ 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 483.]

Effective date—Purpose—2011 1st sp.s. c 43: See notes following RCW 43.19.003.

Expiration date—2010 c 160: "This act expires December 31, 2011." [ 2010 c 160 s 6.]

Short title—Headings, captions not law—Severability—Effective dates—2002 c 354: See RCW 41.80.907 through 41.80.910.

Construction—1997 c 203: See note following RCW 49.46.130.

Effective date—1993 c 281: See note following RCW 41.06.022.

Effective date—1989 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 518, approved November 8, 1988): "This act shall take effect January 1, 1989." [ 1989 c 1 s 5.]

Effect of offset of military pay on status of bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees: RCW 73.16.080.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 142 cases (21 in the last 5 years), 1965–2026 · leading case: Berrocal v. Fernandez, 121 P.3d 82 (Wash. 2005).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Berrocal v. Fernandez, 121 P.3d 82 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 48× “However, RCW 49.46.010 provides that certain workers do not fall within the definition of "employee" and are exempt from the minimum wage requirements.”

Berrocal v. Fernandez, 155 Wash. 2d 585 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 39× “However, RCW 49.46.010 provides that certain workers do not fall within the definition of “employee” and are exempt from the minimum wage requirements.”

Morin v. Harrell, 164 P.3d 495 (Wash. 2007). · cites it 18× “46 RCW (Minimum Wage Act or MWA) by, among other things, replacing the exemption for domestic service providers with an exemption limited to individuals employed in casual labor.”

Anfinson v. FedEx Ground Package Sys., Inc., 281 P.3d 289 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 7× “3d 10 (2003) (“[T]he legislature broadly defined employee in RCW 49.46.010([3]).”). ¶28 Both parties’ interpretations of the statutory definition of “employee” are reasonable.”

Hisle v. Todd Pac. Shipyards Corp., 151 Wash. 2d 853 (Wash. 2004). · cites it 5× “See RCW 49.46.010 (defining various terms other than “regular rate”); Inniss v.”

Hisle v. Todd Pac. Shipyards Corp., 93 P.3d 108 (Wash. 2004). · cites it 5× “See RCW 49.46.010 (defining various terms other than "regular rate"); Inniss v.”

Chelan Cnty. Deputy Sheriffs' Ass'n v. Cnty. of Chelan, 745 P.2d 1 (Wash. 1987). · cites it 11× “C Goff's Claims In denying the City's motion for a directed verdict and declining to give the City's proposed jury instruction which recited the exclusion from the MWA in RCW 49.46.010-(5)(j), the trial court ruled as a matter of law that Goff was covered by the MWA.”

Nwauzor v. The GEO Grp., Inc., 540 P.3d 93 (Wash. 2023). · cites it 21× “, No 101786-3 county, or municipal correctional, detention, treatment or rehabilitative institution.” (Emphasis added.) GEO argues the MWA does not cover workers who are detained.”

Drinkwitz v. Alliant Techsystems, Inc., 996 P.2d 582 (Wash. 2000). · cites it 5× “" RCW 49.46.010(5)(c). Pursuant to its authority to "define and delimit" the term "professional capacity," Washington's Department of Labor and Industries (DLI) defines "professional" employees as individuals compensated for their services "on a salary or fee basis.”

Drinkwitz v. Alliant Techsystems, Inc., 140 Wash. 2d 291 (Wash. 2000). · cites it 5× “§ 213 (a)(1) as someone who is inter alia “compensated for services on a salary or fee basis”) with WAC 296-128-530(5) (defining a “professional” employee for the purposes of RCW 49.46.010(5) (c) as someone who is inter alia “compensated for his services on a salary or fee…”

Strain v. West Travel, Inc., 70 P.3d 158 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “[25] Application of the Washington MWA's wage rate provisions to Cruise West's customer service representatives would unduly disrupt the uniformity and harmony of federal maritime law.”

Morin v. Harrell, 161 Wash. 2d 226 (Wash. 2007). · cites it 18× “5 Since the codification of 1-518 at RCW 49.46.010 in 1989, there have been multiple subsequent amendments to the statute.”

Show all 142 citing cases →

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(1) — 1 case

Litchfield v. KPMG, LLP, 285 P.3d 172 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(2) — 31 cases

Hisle v. Todd Pac. Shipyards Corp., 151 Wash. 2d 853 (Wash. 2004). “See RCW 49.46.010 (defining various terms other than “regular rate”); Inniss v.”

Hisle v. Todd Pac. Shipyards Corp., 93 P.3d 108 (Wash. 2004). “See RCW 49.46.010 (defining various terms other than "regular rate"); Inniss v.”

Anfinson v. FedEx Ground Package Sys., Inc., 281 P.3d 289 (Wash. 2012). “3d 10 (2003) (“[T]he legislature broadly defined employee in RCW 49.46.010([3]).”). ¶28 Both parties’ interpretations of the statutory definition of “employee” are reasonable.”

Gaglidari v. Denny's Restaurants, Inc., 815 P.2d 1362 (Wash. 1991).

Flower v. T.R.A. Indus., Inc., 111 P.3d 1192 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(3) — 21 cases

Nwauzor v. The GEO Grp., Inc., 540 P.3d 93 (Wash. 2023). “, No 101786-3 county, or municipal correctional, detention, treatment or rehabilitative institution.” (Emphasis added.) GEO argues the MWA does not cover workers who are detained.”

Becerra Becerra v. Expert Janitorial, LLC, 309 P.3d 711 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).

United Food & Com. Workers Union Local 1001 v. Mut. Benefit Life Ins., 925 P.2d 212 (Wash. Ct. App. 1996).

Anderson v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 115 Wash. App. 452 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(3)(c) — 6 cases

Fiore v. PPG Indus., Inc., 279 P.3d 972 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012).

Bollinger v. Residential Capital, LLC, 863 F. Supp. 2d 1041 (W.D. Wash. 2012).

Reed v. City of Asotin, 917 F. Supp. 2d 1156 (E.D. Wash. 2013).

Trueblue, Inc. v. Kelly Marchel (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).

Five Star Guttering, LLC v. Dep't of Labor & Indus. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(3)(d) — 4 cases

Rhett Greenfield, V. Dep't Of Labor & Indus. (Wash. Ct. App. 2023).

Rocha v. King Cnty. (Wash. 2020).

Nwauzor v. The GEO Grp. Inc (W.D. Wash. 2021).

State of Washington v. The GEO Grp. Inc (W.D. Wash. 2021).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(3)(e) — 1 case

Monica Arreola-martinez V. State Of Washington (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(3)(j) — 4 cases

Curtis Johnson, V. Silver Shores Mhp, Llc & David Robert Fritschi, Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).

Polly v. E & E Foods (W.D. Wash. 2021).

Aponte v. Mason Cnty. Fire Prot. Dist. No. 16 (W.D. Wash. 2022).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(3)(k) — 6 cases

Washington v. GEO Grp., Inc., 283 F. Supp. 3d 967 (W.D. Wash. 2017).

Chao Chen v. GEO Grp., Inc., 287 F. Supp. 3d 1158 (W.D. Wash. 2017).

Nwauzor v. The GEO Grp. Inc (W.D. Wash. 2020).

Nwauzor v. The GEO Grp. Inc (W.D. Wash. 2021).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(4) — 14 cases

Rekhter v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 323 P.3d 1036 (Wash. 2014).

Clark v. City of Kent, 136 Wash. App. 668 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).

Bostain v. Food Express, Inc., 111 P.3d 906 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).

Bostain v. Food Express, Inc., 127 Wash. App. 499 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(4)(e) — 1 case

Monica Arreola-martinez V. State Of Washington (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(5) — 21 cases

Berrocal v. Fernandez, 155 Wash. 2d 585 (Wash. 2005). “However, RCW 49.46.010 provides that certain workers do not fall within the definition of “employee” and are exempt from the minimum wage requirements.”

Hisle v. Todd Pac. Shipyards Corp., 151 Wash. 2d 853 (Wash. 2004). “See RCW 49.46.010 (defining various terms other than “regular rate”); Inniss v.”

Hisle v. Todd Pac. Shipyards Corp., 93 P.3d 108 (Wash. 2004). “See RCW 49.46.010 (defining various terms other than "regular rate"); Inniss v.”

Chelan Cnty. Deputy Sheriffs' Ass'n v. Cnty. of Chelan, 745 P.2d 1 (Wash. 1987). “C Goff's Claims In denying the City's motion for a directed verdict and declining to give the City's proposed jury instruction which recited the exclusion from the MWA in RCW 49.46.010-(5)(j), the trial court ruled as a matter of law that Goff was covered by the MWA.”

Berrocal v. Fernandez, 121 P.3d 82 (Wash. 2005). “However, RCW 49.46.010 provides that certain workers do not fall within the definition of "employee" and are exempt from the minimum wage requirements.”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(5)(1) — 2 cases

Chelan Cnty. Deputy Sheriffs' Ass'n v. Cnty. of Chelan, 725 P.2d 1001 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(5)(a) — 5 cases

Huntley v. Frito-Lay, Inc., 96 Wash. App. 398 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).

Webster v. Pub. Sch. Employees of Washington, Inc., 45 F. Supp. 2d 823 (W.D. Wash. 1998).

Huntley v. Frito-Lay, Inc., 979 P.2d 488 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(5)(b) — 2 cases

Morin v. Harrell, 164 P.3d 495 (Wash. 2007). “46 RCW (Minimum Wage Act or MWA) by, among other things, replacing the exemption for domestic service providers with an exemption limited to individuals employed in casual labor.”

Morin v. Harrell, 161 Wash. 2d 226 (Wash. 2007). “5 Since the codification of 1-518 at RCW 49.46.010 in 1989, there have been multiple subsequent amendments to the statute.”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(5)(c) — 32 cases

Drinkwitz v. Alliant Techsystems, Inc., 996 P.2d 582 (Wash. 2000). “" RCW 49.46.010(5)(c). Pursuant to its authority to "define and delimit" the term "professional capacity," Washington's Department of Labor and Industries (DLI) defines "professional" employees as individuals compensated for their services "on a salary or fee basis.”

Drinkwitz v. Alliant Techsystems, Inc., 140 Wash. 2d 291 (Wash. 2000). “§ 213 (a)(1) as someone who is inter alia “compensated for services on a salary or fee basis”) with WAC 296-128-530(5) (defining a “professional” employee for the purposes of RCW 49.46.010(5) (c) as someone who is inter alia “compensated for his services on a salary or fee…”

Webster v. Pub. Sch. Employees of Washington, Inc., 148 Wash. 2d 383 (Wash. 2003).

Miller v. Farmer Bros. Co., 64 P.3d 49 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003).

Miller v. Farmer Bros., 115 Wash. App. 815 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(5)(e) — 2 cases

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(5)(h) — 2 cases

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(5)(j) — 10 cases

Strain v. West Travel, Inc., 117 Wash. App. 251 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003).

Strain v. West Travel, Inc., 70 P.3d 158 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “[25] Application of the Washington MWA's wage rate provisions to Cruise West's customer service representatives would unduly disrupt the uniformity and harmony of federal maritime law.”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(5)(k) — 4 cases

Hill v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 161 Wash. App. 286 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011).

Calhoun v. State, 146 Wash. App. 877 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).

Hill v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 253 P.3d 430 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011).

Calhoun v. State, 193 P.3d 188 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(5)(m) — 2 cases

Davis v. State, Dept. of Transp., 159 P.3d 427 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).

Davis v. Dep't of Transp., 138 Wash. App. 811 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(6) — 2 cases

Cooper v. Alsco, Inc. (Wash. 2016).

Cooper v. Alsco, Inc., 376 P.3d 382 (Wash. 2016).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(7) — 19 cases

Certification From the U.S. Dist. Court for the E. Dist. of Wash. in Mariano Carranza v. Dovex Fruit Co., 416 P.3d 1205 (Wash. 2018).

Charles Peiffer v. Pro-Cut Concrete Cutting & Breaking, Inc., 431 P.3d 1018 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).

LaCoursiere v. CamWest Dev., Inc., 339 P.3d 963 (Wash. 2014).

Stahl v. Delicor of Puget Sound, Inc., 64 P.3d 10 (Wash. 2003).

Stahl v. Delicor of Puget Sound, Inc., 148 Wash. 2d 876 (Wash. 2003).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.010(c)(3) — 1 case

Five Star Guttering, LLC v. Dep't of Labor & Indus. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).

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