Minimum Wage/California
California Minimum Wage 2026
The statewide rate, tipped rules, the exempt salary threshold, and the local minimums that exceed it. Every figure below is checked against primary sources.
| Tipped minimum | No tip credit; tipped employees receive the full $16.90 / hour |
|---|---|
| Exempt salary threshold | $70,304 / year (2× state minimum). Computer software professionals: $122,573.13 / year |
How California’s exempt salary threshold compares across all six states
Local rates above the state minimum
Hourly minimums compared
Hourly minimum wage as verified August 18, 2026. Bars start at $0.
LA citywide hotel workers & LAX airport workers: $25.00 / hour (effective July 1, 2026; the 2025 referendum suspension was lifted; later escalators toward $30 were pushed from 2028 to 2030)
Statewide sector minimums: fast food $20.00 / hour (unchanged); health-care worker minimums (SB 525) rose July 1, 2026 to $19.28–$25.00 / hour depending on facility type
Many other California cities set higher local minimums (e.g., San Diego, Berkeley, Pasadena). Always check the city/county rate.
Deep dives: Emeryville · West Hollywood
Rate record
What has taken effect and what we have checked.
January 1, 2026
State minimum in effect: $16.90 / hour
August 18, 2026
Every figure on this page re-verified against the primary sources below.Latest check
Questions employers ask
What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?
$16.90 per hour statewide, for all employers regardless of size, effective January 1, 2026. Many California cities set higher local rates, so the rate where the work is performed controls.
Do tipped employees in California get a lower minimum wage?
No. California allows no tip credit; tipped employees must receive the full $16.90 per hour before tips.
Which California cities have a higher minimum wage than the state?
As of July 1, 2026: San Francisco $19.61, City of Los Angeles $18.42, unincorporated LA County $18.47, Santa Monica $18.47, Emeryville $20.34, and West Hollywood $20.25, among others. Always check the specific city or county.
What is the California health care worker minimum wage after July 2026?
It is sector-specific under SB 525, not one rate: $19.28 to $25.00 per hour depending on facility type as of July 1, 2026; separate from the $16.90 general state rate. The fast-food sector minimum remains $20.00.
Did the $25 Los Angeles hotel worker minimum wage take effect?
Yes. Covered Los Angeles hotel workers and LAX airport workers must receive $25.00 per hour as of July 1, 2026. Later scheduled increases toward $30 were delayed to 2030 by a May 2026 amendment.
Sources and caveats
Caveat: Emeryville's city site blocks automated access; its rate was last confirmed directly against emeryville.org on July 2, 2026 (the city adjusts each July 1). West Hollywood figures are confirmed by manual capture of weho.org.
Get notified when California changes its rate
State employment law changes, in plain English, with what to do about them.
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