Washington has the highest state minimum wage in the country and pay floors for rideshare and delivery work. Here's what you're owed, where the rules get stricter, and where to start this week.
Statewide floors for 2026. Some cities and app work pay more.
2026 local minimum wages above the state rate. Tacoma and Olympia currently follow the state's $17.13.
| City | 2026 minimum | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $21.30 | All workers in city limits |
| Tukwila | $21.65 | All employers |
| Renton | $21.57 | Large employers and some franchises; others $20.57 Jan–Jun, $21.57 Jul–Dec |
| Unincorporated King County | $18.32–$20.82 | Depends on employer size |
| SeaTac | $20.74 | Hospitality and transportation jobs |
| Everett | $18.77–$20.77 | Depends on employer size and time of year |
| Bellingham | $19.13 | All employers |
| Burien | In dispute | Ordinance and ballot measure set different rates; court case pending |
Source: source
Delivery apps in Seattle must pay at least $0.47 per minute plus $0.80 per mile, or $5.34 per offer, whichever is more. The law covers apps such as DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats. Outside Seattle there's no delivery pay floor, so pay depends on each app. sources 1, 2
Rideshare drivers in Seattle need extra paperwork: a King County for-hire driver permit (the app applies for you), a defensive driving course and exam, a Seattle business license, and a yearly vehicle inspection. Uber requires new Seattle drivers to be 25. sources 1, 2
Delivery ages: Washington isn't one of the states where DoorDash requires Dashers to be 19 or 21, so you can start at 18. source
Local pay rules, day labor branches, seasonal hiring, and free job help.
43 apps you can sign up for anywhere in Washington. City availability varies, so check each app for your ZIP code.
Food and convenience delivery. Bikes and scooters allowed in some markets and skip the license and insurance requirement.
Source: Gridwise 2025, gross. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Restaurant delivery by car, scooter, bike, or on foot. Car drivers must be 21 in California and New York State.
Source: Gridwise 2025, gross. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Rideshare driving. New drivers must be 25 in California and some other cities, 23 in others, with 1 year of US driving experience (3 if under 25).
Source: Gridwise 2025, gross, excludes wait time. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Rideshare driving. Lyft raised its minimum age to 25 in most markets.
Source: Gridwise 2026, gross, excludes wait time. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Grocery shopping and delivery. Approval and background check usually take 1–4 days each. Instant cashout ($0.50) unlocks after 5 orders.
Source: Shopper reports via Gridwise. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Grocery and retail delivery for Target and other stores. Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
Source: Shopper reports via Gridwise. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Walmart grocery and package delivery. Onboarding is often handled by a local delivery partner.
Source: Gridwise 2025, gross. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Block-scheduled package delivery. Four-door sedan, SUV, van, or covered-bed truck. Small cars and open-bed trucks don't qualify.
Source: Amazon; Gridwise avg $21.96 (2024). Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Food delivery with scheduled blocks. Bike delivery is limited to a few big cities such as New York and San Francisco.
Source: Gridwise 2025, gross. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Package gigs, often along routes you already drive. Paid weekly on Tuesdays, with an Instant Pay option.
Source: Roadie; no hourly data. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Courier, moving, and hauling. Cars qualify for courier jobs; cargo vans ($63–71) and box trucks ($85) earn more. Vehicle must be under 15 years old. Deposits arrive about 4 days after a job.
Source: GoShare's own averages, gross. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Pick warehouse, event, and food service shifts from local businesses. Instapay unlocks for reliable workers with good reviews.
Source: Sidehusl, Apr 2025
On-demand warehouse, delivery, and general labor shifts. Paid per shift, usually within 1–5 business days.
Source: Not published
Retail and store support shifts such as restocking and merchandising. No background check listed in its requirements.
Source: Not published
Manufacturing, warehouse, and logistics jobs. Paid by 5 PM Central the day after the job ends.
Source: Not published
Restaurant and hospitality shifts. Requires prior food and beverage experience, so it's a fit for former service workers.
Source: Not published
Warehouse and light industrial shifts. Payment starts processing the day of the shift; Instant Pay arrives in about 30 minutes for a 1.5% fee.
Source: Not published
Day labor and staffing agency with branches in most metros.
Source: Not yet verified
Furniture assembly, moving help, mounting, yard work. You set your rate. One-time $25 registration fee.
Source: Gridwise 2025 (TaskRabbit says $49)
Local service leads. You pay for each lead even if the job falls through, so it suits people with an existing trade skill.
Source: You pay per lead
Moving help. Join as a Hand with no vehicle ($35/hr avg) or as a Helper with a truck or cargo van ($50/hr avg). You pay for your own background check. Paid twice a week via PayPal.
Source: Company averages, gross
Dog walking, drop-ins, and pet sitting. You set prices; Rover takes a service fee.
Source: Not yet verified
On-demand dog walks and sitting. Some markets charge an application fee to cover the background check.
Source: Not published
Babysitting, senior care, and housekeeping. Caregivers go through enhanced screening, including a criminal background check.
Source: Not yet verified
Train and rate AI models. Generalist roles require a bachelor's degree (or current enrollment) from a top-300 school. Paid weekly via PayPal or AirTM.
Source: Outlier
AI writing and evaluation tasks after a qualification test. Specialist tracks (coding, law, medicine) reportedly pay $50+.
Source: Third-party report, unconfirmed
Paid academic studies. Good filler income, not a full-time job.
Source: Prolific's pay rules
Record yourself testing websites and apps. Tests are sporadic and screened. Paid via PayPal 7–14 days after a test.
Source: SoftwareTestingHelp
Transcription and captioning. Manual transcription takes 4–8 hours per audio hour, so effective pay is low. Paid weekly via PayPal.
Source: Rev; about $4–16/hr of work
Sell a professional skill. Slow to land the first client, highest ceiling.
Source: Not yet verified
Fulfillment and sort center jobs. No résumé or interview for most roles: pick a shift, finish a pre-hire appointment, and start, often within 1–2 weeks.
Source: Amazon, Sept 2025 (US fulfillment and transportation average)
Holiday package handler, driver helper, and seasonal driver jobs. UPS planned 100,000+ seasonal hires for 2026, and many applicants get an offer within minutes of applying.
Source: UPS does not post one rate
Package delivery routes. Mid-size sedan or larger; pickups need a bed cover. Paid twice a week.
Source: Veho regional averages, paid per route. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Furniture and moving jobs. Join as a helper with no vehicle (must lift 125 lbs), or drive a pickup, van, or box truck for more. Paid at the end of each workday; same day to a debit card. Background check fee comes out of first earnings.
Source: Lugg averages plus tips; drivers $28–47
Pickup truck, cargo van, or trailer deliveries of furniture and large items in 110+ markets. Needs a clean driving record and ability to lift 125 lbs. Paid Tuesdays and Fridays, or same day for a fee.
Source: Bungii's stated ceiling, not an average. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Pick up hourly shifts and tasks from local businesses. Workers pay a $1/hr trust and safety fee. Payouts follow timesheet approval; same-day payout is reportedly available for a fee.
Source: Not published
Deliver convenience store orders from Gopuff warehouses. Includes an alcohol delivery course. Some cities guarantee a minimum hourly rate on scheduled blocks.
Source: Driver reports, 2023. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Companionship and errands for older adults. One-hour training. A car is only needed if you drive members around; mileage is reimbursed.
Source: The Senior List
Home cleaning and handyman jobs at a flat rate per job. Requires paid experience in the category you apply for. Paid within 7 days of each job.
Source: Sidehusl, 2024
Quick in-store tasks with your phone: price checks, photos of displays, and mystery shops. Cash out at $3; arrives in 2–3 business days.
Source: Field Agent app listing
Paid interviews and focus groups, often for professionals. High pay per session but you must qualify for each study. Paid within 5–7 business days.
Source: Respondent
Online microtasks such as tagging, writing, and search rating. Weekly payouts once you reach $10. Uneven supply; works as filler income.
Source: Worker reports, 2026
Sell packaged services like design, editing, voiceover, or writing. Fiverr keeps 20% of each order, and new sellers wait 14 days before withdrawing.
Source: Fiverr keeps 20%
Last checked November 2026.