The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced today that Washington's minimum wage will increase to $9.19 in 2013. For 2012, Washington's state minimum wage is the highest in the country at $9.04. (The cities of Santa Fe and San Francisco have higher municipal minimum wages.)The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25.

In 2012, the second highest state minimum wage is Oregon, at $8.80. The L&I announcement notes that Oregon has said that its 2013 minimum will be $8.95. Both Washington and Oregon index their minimum wages to inflation, as do Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio and Vermont. The 2012 rankings of these states' minimum wages were: Vermont (3rd, $8.46), Nevada (tied for 4th, $8.25), Ohio (10th, $7.70), Florida (11th, $7.67), Arizona (tied for 12th, $7.65), Montana (tied for 12th, $7.65), Colorado (14th, $7.64), and Missouri (tied for 19th, $7.25).

It seems likely that Washington will continue to have the highest state minimum wage in the nation in 2013.