Washington Employment Agreement / Offer Letter (2026)

A job offer letter or full employment agreement with pay, benefits, confidentiality, IP and restrictive covenants drafted to your state's non-compete, sick-leave and pay-timing rules.

Updated September 11, 2026≈ 10 minReviewed against RCW ch. 49.62 · RCW 49.44.140-.150 · RCW 49.48.010; WAC 296-126-023

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What you'll get

Sample first page of the Employment Agreement / Offer Letter. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in Washington are added automatically.

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What this document covers

Offer letter or full employment agreement in one wizard
Position, duties, location and start date
At-will or fixed term
Exempt / non-exempt status with FLSA overtime note
Salary or hourly pay, bonus and commission plan
Benefits, PTO and state paid sick leave
Confidentiality, DTSA notice and IP assignment with state carve-outs
Non-solicitation and state-compliant non-compete
Termination, final pay timing and return of property
Optional arbitration, governing law, state new-hire notices

Washington rules that this document follows

Non-compete rule	Limited — void below $126,858.83/yr (2026); max 18 monthsSource: RCW ch. 49.62 (as amended by ESHB 1155, 2026)
Invention-assignment carve-out	Statute limits assignment to work-related inventions; written notice to the employee requiredSource: RCW 49.44.140-.150
Pay frequency	at least once a month on regular established paydays, within 10 days after the pay period endsSource: RCW 49.48.010; WAC 296-126-023
Final paycheck	Discharged: by the end of the established pay period (next regular payday). Resigned: same — next regular payday.Source: RCW 49.48.010
Paid sick leave	Washington Paid Sick Leave law — 1 hour per 40 hours worked, up to no annual cap; carryover of 40 hours (all employers)Source: RCW 49.46.200-.210
Pay transparency	Pay range required in job postings (15+ employees)Source: RCW 49.58.110
New-hire wage notice	Notice at hire: rate of pay, pay basis, established payday and any deductions, in writing at the time of hiringSource: WAC 296-126-040
Exempt salary floor	$1,541.70/week ($80,168.40/yr, 2026) — 2.25 × state minimum wage ($17.13 in 2026) × 40 hours; 2.5× for employers with more than 50 employees from 2027Source: WAC 296-128-545

Rules current as of 2026-09-14. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.

How to use this Employment Agreement / Offer Letter in Washington

Decide exempt vs. non-exempt honestly: the salary floor and the duties test both matter, and misclassification is the most expensive payroll mistake.

Give the signed offer letter or agreement before the first day, together with the Washington new-hire wage notice (WAC 296-126-040), and complete Form I-9 within three business days of the start date.

Non-compete timing: terms disclosed in writing no later than the initial acceptance of the offer; new consideration if entered after start (RCW 49.62.020(1)(a)) (RCW 49.62.020). Late delivery makes the covenant unenforceable; it is void anyway below $126,858.83 per year.

Pay transparency: Washington requires the pay range in every job posting (RCW 49.58.110); the offer letter states the range you enter.

Frequently asked questions

Can I include a non-compete in Washington?

Only within statutory limits (RCW 49.62.020): Void unless employee earns > $126,858.83 or contractor > $317,147.09 (2026); ≤ 18 months presumed reasonable; disclosure before acceptance; garden leave on layoff; $5,000 penalty; ESHB 1155 voids nearly all non-competes eff. June 30, 2027 with notice by Oct. 1, 2027. The wizard omits the covenant when the employee's pay or status does not qualify and prints any required notice.

When is the final paycheck due in Washington?

If discharged: by the end of the established pay period (next regular payday). If the employee resigns: same — next regular payday (RCW 49.48.010). Wages must otherwise be paid at least once a month on regular established paydays, within 10 days after the pay period ends (RCW 49.48.010; WAC 296-126-023).

Does Washington require paid sick leave?

Yes — Washington Paid Sick Leave law (RCW 49.46.200-.210): 1 hour per 40 hours worked, up to no annual cap; carryover of 40 hours; applies to all employers. Local ordinances: Seattle, Tacoma, SeaTac.

What salary makes an employee exempt in Washington?

$1,541.70 per week ($80,168.40 per year) in 2026 — 2.25 × state minimum wage ($17.13 in 2026) × 40 hours; 2.5× for employers with more than 50 employees from 2027 (WAC 296-128-545). The federal FLSA floor is $684 per week.

Does Washington limit invention assignment?

Yes. RCW 49.44.140-.150 limits assignment to work-related inventions and requires written notice of the carve-out, which the agreement prints in Section 6.

Other names

offer letter
job offer letter
employment contract
employee agreement
at-will employment agreement
executive employment agreement
hiring letter
work contract

Other states

FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.