Employment & Worker Protection · Washington
Washington Non-Compete Act
RCW 49.62 - enacted in Washington.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2019
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 62/100
- Washington strictness
The bottom line
Washington Non-Compete Act is an enacted law in Washington, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2020-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 62/100
- Washington strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Washington legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Washington Non-Compete Act
Washington Non-Compete Act (RCW 49.62) is an enacted law in Washington under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2019-05-08 and becomes effective on 2020-01-01. Washington currently reports 7 tracked regulations with 7 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 62/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Washington within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in RCW 49.62 itself.
Applicability under Washington Non-Compete Act: All Washington employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: $5,000 minimum or actual damages (whichever greater) for violation. Attorney fees. Notable exemptions: Sale of business. Above threshold workers with proper procedures..
Summary
Washington non-competes void for employees earning under $120,559/year (2025, indexed) or ICs under $301,395.
Key Requirements
Void for employees ≤$120,559 (2025 threshold, CPI-indexed). Void for ICs ≤$301,395. Max 18 months. 10-day advance notice. Paid separation required.
Penalties
$5,000 minimum or actual damages (whichever greater) for violation. Attorney fees.
Applicability
All Washington employers.
Exemptions
Sale of business. Above threshold workers with proper procedures.
Official Source
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.62How Washington compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Washington ranks #9 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington (this state) | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Washington is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Washington Non-Compete Act enacted?
Washington Non-Compete Act was enacted on 2019-05-08 and became effective on 2020-01-01. It was introduced as RCW 49.62.
What are the penalties for violating Washington Non-Compete Act?
$5,000 minimum or actual damages (whichever greater) for violation. Attorney fees. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Washington Non-Compete Act apply to small businesses?
All Washington employers. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Washington compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Washington has a regulatory strictness score of 62/100, based on 7 enacted regulations out of 7 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Washington Non-Compete Act?
The official text of Washington Non-Compete Act (RCW 49.62) is available from the Washington legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Washington Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Washington Non-Compete Act is enacted in Washington, effective 2020-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Washington ranks #9 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Washington tracks across all five policy areas. Washington profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Washington source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.