Paid Leave · Washington
Washington Paid Medical Leave in 2026
Your own serious health condition, including pregnancy and childbirth recovery. Here is how many weeks Washington pays, what each week pays at your income, and the formula the state uses — worked through at $60,000 a year, with a table for other pay levels.
Informational only — not financial or legal advice. Does not include income tax on benefits.
In Washington you can take up to 12 weeks of medical leave and be paid for 11 of them: about $943 a week, or 82% of your usual pay. The first week is unpaid.
- 90% of the first $915.00$823.50
- 50% of the $238.85 above $915.00$119.42
- Weekly benefit$942.92
- Program: Paid Family and Medical Leave, run by Washington ESD.
- Waiting period: the first 7 days are unpaid and count toward your 12 weeks.
- Who qualifies: 820 hours worked in Washington in the qualifying period (about 16 hours a week).
- Family and medical leave in the same year are capped at 16 weeks combined, 18 if a pregnancy complication is involved. The 90% band is half the state average weekly wage ($1,830 for 2026); the cap is 90% of it.
Law: RCW 50A.15.020 · Figures: Washington Paid Leave — how it works
Job protection is separate. Federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave if your employer has 50+ employees within 75 miles and you have worked there 12 months and 1,250 hours. State paid leave usually runs at the same time, not after it.
Assumes steady pay over the past year. Benefits are figured from your quarterly wage records, so uneven pay changes the answer. Informational only, not financial or legal advice.
Washington medical leave by yearly pay
| Yearly pay | Weekly wage | Weekly benefit | Share of pay | Total for 11 paid weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $576.92 | $519.23 | 90% | $5,712 |
| $45,000 | $865.38 | $778.85 | 90% | $8,567 |
| $60,000 | $1,153.85 | $942.92 | 82% | $10,372 |
| $80,000 | $1,538.46 | $1,135.23 | 74% | $12,488 |
| $100,000 | $1,923.08 | $1,327.54 | 69% | $14,603 |
| $150,000 | $2,884.62 | $1,647.00 (cap) | 57% | $18,117 |
Assumes the same pay in every quarter of the base period. The share of pay falls as income rises because the formula replaces less of each extra dollar, then stops at the cap.
Asking your employer
Washington pays the benefit, but your employer still needs notice. Draft a leave request letter that cites RCW 50A.15.020 and federal FMLA.
Other kinds of leave in Washington
Last reviewed: September 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much does Washington medical leave pay per week in 2026?
Up to $1,647.00 a week. Below the cap, the benefit is a share of your average weekly wage: at $60,000 a year it is about $943 a week. The table above shows other pay levels.
How many weeks of medical leave do you get in Washington?
Up to 12 weeks under Paid Family and Medical Leave, with the first 7 days unpaid. Family and medical leave in the same year are capped at 16 weeks combined, 18 if a pregnancy complication is involved. The 90% band is half the state average weekly wage ($1,830 for 2026); the cap is 90% of it.
Who qualifies for Washington medical leave?
820 hours worked in Washington in the qualifying period (about 16 hours a week). Qualifying for pay is separate from job protection: federal FMLA protects your job only if your employer has 50+ employees within 75 miles and you have worked there 12 months and 1,250 hours.
What law sets Washington's medical leave benefit?
RCW 50A.15.020, administered by Washington ESD. StubTrue reviews the figures each year when the state updates its average weekly wage and cap; last reviewed September 2026.
Related tools
See how many weeks of leave your state gives, how many are paid, and what each week pays — for a new baby, your own health, or caring for family. Formula and law shown.
/paid-leave-calculatorOpen →Leave Request Letter GeneratorDraft a request for time off to your employer that cites federal FMLA and your state's paid leave program. Copy it and send.
/leave-request-letterOpen →State Disability & Paid Leave Deduction CalculatorSee exactly how much your state's SDI or PFML payroll deduction takes from your paycheck — covers CA, NJ, NY, RI, HI, WA, MA, CT, and OR.
/state-disability-calculatorOpen →