Washington’s minimum wage will increase 37 cents to $9.04 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2012, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced today. L&I calculates the state’s minimum wage each year as required by Initiative 688, approved by Washington voters in 1998. Washington state has the highest minimum wage, followed by Oregon. Oregon recently announced that its minimum wage will rise 30 cents to $8.80 an hour in 2012. Washington’s minimum wage applies to workers in both agricultural and non-agricultural jobs, although 14 and 15-year-olds may be paid 85 percent of the adult minimum wage, or $7.68 in 2012. More information on Washington’s minimum wage is available at http://www.Wages.Lni.wa.gov. Employers and workers also may call (360) 902-5316 or 1-866-219-7321.