Seattle Mayor Unveils Plan for Ride-Hailing Minimum Wage

By Justin Steale

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan last week unveiled legislation she said would guarantee ride-hailing drivers are paid at least the city’s minimum wage plus reasonable expenses. Durkan said she intends to transmit the legislation to the Seattle City Council this week.

A study by James Parrott of The New School and Michael Reich of the University of California, Berkeley found that ride-hailing drivers in Seattle make $9.73 an hour after expenses, which is below the city’s minimum wage for large ($16.39 an hour) and small ($15.75 or $13.50 an hour depending on tips and benefits) employers. Using that study, Durkan said Seattle will mandate drivers be paid at least 56 cents a minute plus compensation for reasonable expenses.

Read More