Wage Schedule Information:

Forecasting the WWU Student Employee Wage Schedule:
Since January 1, 2001, the Washington State minimum wage is determined by the cost of living index as measured by the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, CPI-W.

The WWU Student Employee Wage Schedule is tied to the minimum wage, so estimating student employee labor costs for next year has an element of uncertainty. The wage schedule effective on January 1, will not be available until after the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries publishes the new minimum wage resulting from the CPI-W. The new minimum wage will be available in October.

One possible outcome for the CPI-W figure may be 3.8% for the 12 month period ending August 31. Given this rate, the resulting estimated wage schedule is provided to supervisors of student employees for planning purposes to project hiring expenses for next year.

The estimated wage schedule is an estimate for planning purposes only. The actual wage schedule will be determined sometime in October.

Notes:

(1) The graduate research assistant wage level is determined by legislative action rather than changes in the minimum wage.

(2) This estimate is provided for planning purposes only. Supervisors of student employees are alerted that the actual wage schedule will vary from the estimate according to the amount the actual CPI-W varies from the scenario presented.

Links to Wage Information:

• Current Student Employee Wage Schedule

• WA State Minimum Wage Change (as of January 1st)

• Washington State Wage History

• Bureau of Labor Statistics -- Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)

• Federal Minimum Wage Information

• Washington State Minimum Wage Law --RCW 49-46-020