Enforceability of Non-Compete Clauses In 2025, employees must earn at least $123,394.17, and independent contractors must earn $308,485.43, for such agreements to be valid, compared to the previous thresholds of $120,599.99 and $301,399.98, respectively.
Washington has restricted noncompete agreements since 2020 by prohibiting their use unless the following apply: The worker earns more than a minimum compensation amount, which is adjusted annually. For 2024, the threshold is $120,559.99 for employees and $301,399.98 for independent contractors.
Ing to its website, the 2025 threshold for employees is $123,394.17. Washington maintains a higher income threshold for independent contractors, which increases to $308,485.43 in 2025.
Washington Law Civil Penalties Against Employers In addition to allowing employees to speak if they reasonably believe the act was illegal, and making non-disclosure agreements for these activities unenforceable, the act also includes $10,000 in civil penalties for employers who violate the law.
For laid-off employees, noncompete agreements are unenforceable unless the employer pays the full base salary through the noncompete period. For Washington-based employees, out-of-state forum selection clauses will not be enforced, regardless of where the employer is based.
Ing to its website, the 2025 threshold for employees is $123,394.17. Washington maintains a higher income threshold for independent contractors, which increases to $308,485.43 in 2025.
That said: In general, an NDA should not stop you from getting a new job. When you signed the NDA you promised not to disclose certain types of information about the company. So it shouldn't matter where you go to work after that, as long as you don't disclose this information.