Are Non-Compete Agreements Enforceable for Washington State Employees?

There are situations where paperwork and other red tape come into play when you work for the Washington State government. One such example involves “non-compete” agreements, which try to limit where you can go after you leave your job. This brings up obvious questions about whether or not this is legal, and our team at Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers can answer them. Set up a free consultation today.

What’s a Non-Compete Agreement?

You’ve probably heard the term “non-compete,” but what does it actually mean for you as a Washington State employee? Simply put, a non-compete agreement is a part of an employment contract that tries to limit where you can work after leaving a job. Most non-competes do a few main things:

• They try to stop you from joining a direct competitor for a set period of time.
• They forbid you from sharing trade secrets or sensitive business information you learned while on the job.
• They spell out how long the restrictions last, and sometimes where or in what kind of work you can’t go.

Every non-compete looks a little different, but they usually include:

• Who’s involved in the agreement
• When the agreement starts
• How long and how broadly it applies
• Geographic limits on where you can work
• Rules, conditions, or finances tied to it

Most of the time, these kinds of agreements are tied to higher-paying roles in certain industries like tech or finance. But here’s the catch: just because a non-compete is on paper doesn’t mean it’s valid in Washington.

Can My Non-Compete Apply to Me as a Washington State Employee?

If you’re a Washington State employee staring at a non-compete agreement in your new hire paperwork, your first question is probably: Does this even apply to me? The short answer: most of the time, it probably doesn’t. Washington law puts pretty strict limits on these agreements, and many employees—especially state workers—aren’t covered. It’s still helpful to look at how the law approaches these agreements, though:

• State workers are exempt. If you work for Washington State, these agreements don’t apply to you at all.
• Income matters. For 2025, non-competes generally only apply to employees making over $123,394 a year. If you earn less than that, the agreement likely doesn’t bind you.
• Timing is important. Your employer has to give you the agreement before you accept the job. If it comes afterward, it may not be valid.
• Duration has limits. Most non-competes can’t last longer than 18 months unless your employer can show a very good reason. Anything longer is usually considered unreasonable.
• Scope and fairness. The restrictions can’t go further than necessary, and they can’t harm the public. That means your employer can’t just block you from working anywhere in your field for their convenience.

And here’s another important point: employers who try to enforce an invalid non-compete can get into serious trouble. They might have to pay at least $5,000 plus your legal fees if they attempt to enforce an agreement that doesn’t follow the law.

What Can I Do If I’m Under an Illegal Non-Compete Agreement?

Seeing a non-compete in your new-hire paperwork can be stressful. Even if you know it doesn’t apply to you as a state worker, it could still show up. At that point, you should think about what you can do:

• Talk it out if you feel safe. If your employer insists that you need to sign the non-compete, a calm conversation with your supervisor or HR can clear things up. Often, just showing that you know the law is enough to make the issue disappear.
• Legal options. If that doesn’t work, and they try to enforce the agreement, you have legal options. This usually means filing a lawsuit in court, where you can get damages for lost income, reputational harm, emotional distress, and court costs.

At the end of the day, you shouldn’t have to worry about something starkly illegal keeping you from moving forward with your career. That’s when you should look into your options, and that’s where our team can step in.

Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers Protect Workers’ Rights in Washington State

No state worker in Washington should feel stuck or afraid to take the next step because of a non-compete that shouldn’t even apply. If your employer is trying to limit your opportunities unfairly, you have rights—and our Washington employment law team at Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers can help you protect them by:

• Review your agreement and explain exactly what parts, if any, could actually apply to you.
• Clarify what’s enforceable under Washington law so you know where you stand.
• Plan your next steps so you can move forward without fear.

Get started today by setting up a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll make sure your rights as a state worker are protected.