Minimum wage in Palo Alto, California in 2026
The minimum wage in Palo Alto is $18.70 an hour, $1.80 more than the California minimum wage of $16.90. It rises to $19.25 on January 1, 2027, as announced by the local government.
Checked against official sources.
Palo Alto minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $18.70
- A week, 40 hours
- $748.00
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $38,896
That is $72.00 more a week and $3,744 more a year than the California minimum wage of $16.90, for someone working full time.
Who it covers
Employees who perform two or more hours of work per week in Palo Alto, including those under 18.
Tipped workers
California does not allow a tip credit. Tipped workers must be paid the full $16.90 an hour before tips.
Palo Alto minimum wage over time
| Starting | Rate |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | $18.70now |
| January 1, 2027 | $19.25announced |
Adjusted each January 1 by the U.S. Department of Labor's regional (Bay Area) Consumer Price Index.
Other local minimum wages in California
- 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
- 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
- Oakland$17.34
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Minimum Wage, City of Palo Alto
- Minimum Wage, California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office
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.