Minimum wage in California in 2026
The minimum wage in California is $16.90 an hour in 2026, and up to $20.34 in Emeryville. It rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027, as announced by the state.
Checked against official sources.
California minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $16.90
- A week, 40 hours
- $676.00
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $35,152
- Tipped cash wage
- $16.90same as minimum wage
In effect since . A year means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before taxes.
Upcoming raises
- $17.40 an hour, $36,192 a year (announced by the state)
Local minimum wages in California
These places set their own, higher minimum wage. If you work there, your employer must pay the local rate.
| Place | Minimum wage | Since | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emeryville | $20.34 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| West Hollywood | $20.25 | January 1, 2026 | $20.94 on January 1, 2027 |
| Mountain View | $19.70 | January 1, 2026 | $20.25 on January 1, 2027 |
| Berkeley | $19.61 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| San Francisco | $19.61 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| Sunnyvale | $19.50 | January 1, 2026 | $20.05 on January 1, 2027 |
| Richmond | $19.18 | January 1, 2026 | $19.61 on January 1, 2027 |
| Belmont | $18.95 | January 1, 2026 | $19.60 on January 1, 2027 |
| El Cerrito | $18.82 | January 1, 2026 | $19.36 on January 1, 2027 |
| Cupertino | $18.70 | January 1, 2026 | $19.25 on January 1, 2027 |
| Palo Alto | $18.70 | January 1, 2026 | $19.25 on January 1, 2027 |
| Santa Clara | $18.70 | January 1, 2026 | $19.25 on January 1, 2027 |
| Redwood City | $18.65 | January 1, 2026 | $19.30 on January 1, 2027 |
| San Mateo | $18.60 | January 1, 2026 | $19.25 on January 1, 2027 |
| Pasadena | $18.57 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| Milpitas | $18.50 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| Santa Monica | $18.47 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| Sonoma | $18.47 | January 1, 2026 | $19.10 on January 1, 2027 |
| Unincorporated Los Angeles County | $18.47 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| San Jose | $18.45 | January 1, 2026 | $19.00 on January 1, 2027 |
| Los Angeles | $18.42 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| Petaluma | $18.31 | January 1, 2026 | $18.93 on January 1, 2027 |
| Santa Rosa | $18.21 | January 1, 2026 | $18.83 on January 1, 2027 |
| South San Francisco | $18.15 | January 1, 2026 | $18.75 on January 1, 2027 |
| Fremont | $18.05 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| Unincorporated San Mateo County | $17.95 | January 1, 2026 | $18.58 on January 1, 2027 |
| Half Moon Bay | $17.91 | January 1, 2026 | $18.52 on January 1, 2027 |
| Malibu | $17.91 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| East Palo Alto | $17.90 | January 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| Burlingame | $17.86 | January 1, 2026 | $18.47 on January 1, 2027 |
| Foster City | $17.85 | January 1, 2026 | $18.36 on January 1, 2027 |
| Hayward | $17.79 | January 1, 2026 | $18.39 on January 1, 2027 |
| Alameda | $17.76 | July 1, 2026 | None set yet |
| San Carlos | $17.75 | January 1, 2026 | $18.35 on January 1, 2027 |
| San Diego | $17.75 | January 1, 2026 | $18.35 on January 1, 2027 |
| Novato | $17.73 | January 1, 2026 | $18.25 on January 1, 2027 |
| Menlo Park | $17.55 | January 1, 2026 | $18.05 on January 1, 2027 |
| Daly City | $17.50 | January 1, 2026 | $18.10 on January 1, 2027 |
| Oakland | $17.34 | January 1, 2026 | None set yet |
Tipped workers
California does not allow a tip credit. Tipped workers must be paid the full $16.90 an hour before tips.
Who gets a different rate
California's minimum wage covers every employer, whatever its size.
- Fast food workers at national chains: $20.00 an hour. Since April 1, 2024
- Health care workers at large systems and dialysis clinics: $25.00 an hour. Since July 1, 2026
- Health care workers at most other covered facilities: $23.00 an hour. Since July 1, 2026, rising to $25 on July 1, 2028
- Health care workers at community and rural clinics: $22.00 an hour. Since July 1, 2026, rising to $25 on July 1, 2027
- Health care workers at safety net hospitals and small rural facilities: $19.28 an hour. Since July 1, 2026, rising to $19.95 on July 1, 2027
- Learners. 85% of the minimum wage for their first 160 hours in a new kind of job
California minimum wage by year
| Year | Rate on January 1 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $14.00 |
| 2023 | $15.50 |
| 2024 | $16.00 |
| 2025 | $16.50 |
| 2026 | $16.90 |
California raises the rate every January 1 by inflation (CPI-W) and announces it by August 1. It never goes down.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?
The minimum wage in California is $16.90 an hour in 2026, and up to $20.34 in Emeryville. It rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027, as announced by the state.
How much is minimum wage a year in California?
At $16.90 an hour, a full-time worker on 40 hours a week earns $676.00 a week and $35,152 a year before taxes.
What is the minimum wage for tipped workers in California?
California does not allow a tip credit. Tipped workers must be paid the full $16.90 an hour before tips.
When does the minimum wage go up in California?
It rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027. California raises the rate every January 1 by inflation (CPI-W) and announces it by August 1. It never goes down.
Which cities in California have a higher minimum wage?
Emeryville ($20.34), West Hollywood ($20.25), Mountain View ($19.70), Berkeley ($19.61), San Francisco ($19.61), Sunnyvale ($19.50), Richmond ($19.18), Belmont ($18.95), El Cerrito ($18.82), Cupertino ($18.70), Palo Alto ($18.70), Santa Clara ($18.70), Redwood City ($18.65), San Mateo ($18.60), Pasadena ($18.57), Milpitas ($18.50), Santa Monica ($18.47), Sonoma ($18.47), unincorporated Los Angeles County ($18.47), San Jose ($18.45), Los Angeles ($18.42), Petaluma ($18.31), Santa Rosa ($18.21), South San Francisco ($18.15), Fremont ($18.05), unincorporated San Mateo County ($17.95), Half Moon Bay ($17.91), Malibu ($17.91), East Palo Alto ($17.90), Burlingame ($17.86), Foster City ($17.85), Hayward ($17.79), Alameda ($17.76), San Carlos ($17.75), San Diego ($17.75), Novato ($17.73), Menlo Park ($17.55), Daly City ($17.50) and Oakland ($17.34) have their own minimum wages above the state rate. Workers there get the local rate.
Is there a different minimum wage for some workers in California?
Fast food workers at national chains: $20.00 an hour (since April 1, 2024). Health care workers at large systems and dialysis clinics: $25.00 an hour (since July 1, 2026). Health care workers at most other covered facilities: $23.00 an hour (since July 1, 2026, rising to $25 on July 1, 2028). Health care workers at community and rural clinics: $22.00 an hour (since July 1, 2026, rising to $25 on July 1, 2027). Health care workers at safety net hospitals and small rural facilities: $19.28 an hour (since July 1, 2026, rising to $19.95 on July 1, 2027). Learners: (85% of the minimum wage for their first 160 hours in a new kind of job).
Minimum wage in other Western states
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Minimum Wage, California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office
- California's minimum wage set to increase to $17.40 per hour on January 1, 2027, California Department of Industrial Relations, updated
- Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions, California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office
- Fast Food Minimum Wage FAQ, California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office
- Health Care Worker Minimum Wage FAQ, California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office
- Minimum Wage Ordinance, City of Emeryville
- Minimum Wage, City of West Hollywood
- Mountain View Minimum Wage Ordinance, City of Mountain View, updated
- Workforce Standards and Enforcement, City of Berkeley
- Berkeley Minimum Wage official notice, City of Berkeley
- Minimum Wage Ordinance, City and County of San Francisco, Office of Labor Standards Enforcement
- Historical San Francisco Minimum Wage Rates, City and County of San Francisco, OLSE
- Minimum Wage in Sunnyvale, City of Sunnyvale
- Richmond's Minimum Wage Ordinance, City of Richmond, Employment & Training Department
- Belmont Minimum Wage Ordinance, City of Belmont
- Minimum Wage Ordinance, City of El Cerrito
- Cupertino Minimum Wage, City of Cupertino
- Minimum Wage, City of Palo Alto
- Minimum Wage Ordinance, City of Santa Clara
- Minimum Wage, City of Redwood City
- Minimum Wage, City of San Mateo
- 2027 Minimum Wage Notice, City of San Mateo
- Official Notice effective July 1, 2026, City of Pasadena, Planning and Community Development, updated
- Official Notice effective July 1, 2025, City of Pasadena, updated
- Minimum Wage, City of Milpitas
- Minimum Wage, City of Santa Monica
- Sonoma Minimum Wage, City of Sonoma
- Minimum Wage (FY 2026-27 notice), Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs
- Minimum Wage Ordinance, City of San José, Office of Equality Assurance
- Office of Wage Standards home page, City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Contract Administration, Office of Wage Standards
- July 1, 2026 Minimum Wage Ordinance Wage Rate Increase memo, City of Los Angeles, Office of Wage Standards, updated
- Citywide Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Rate chart, City of Los Angeles, Office of Wage Standards, updated
- Petaluma Minimum Wage, City of Petaluma
- Minimum Wage, City of Santa Rosa
- Local Minimum Wage, City of South San Francisco
- 2026 Minimum wage reference chart, County of San Mateo, Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement
- Minimum Wage, City of Fremont
- San Mateo County Minimum Wage Information, County of San Mateo, Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement
- Half Moon Bay Local Minimum Wage, City of Half Moon Bay
- Minimum Wage, City of Malibu
- Local Minimum Wage, City of East Palo Alto
- Minimum Wage Information, City of Burlingame
- City of Foster City Minimum Wage Ordinance, City of Foster City
- Local Minimum Wage, City of Hayward
- Minimum Wage, City of Alameda, Base Reuse and Economic Development
- Minimum Wage, City of San Carlos
- Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, City of San Diego, Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement
- Hospitality Minimum Wage Ordinance, City of San Diego, Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement
- Novato Minimum Wage, City of Novato
- Local minimum wage ordinance, City of Menlo Park
- Minimum Wage, City of Daly City
- Download Minimum Wage and Hotel Wage Posters, City of Oakland, Department of Workplace and Employment Standards
- Oakland Minimum Wage, Sick Leave, and Other Labor Laws, City of Oakland, Department of Workplace and Employment Standards
- State Minimum Wage Laws, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law, 1968 to 2024, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
Laws change. If your pay is below these rates, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.