California Minimum Wage by City 2026 — Full List, Updated July 1
California's statewide minimum wage is $16.90 per hour in 2026 — but if you work in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, or one of dozens of other cities and counties across the state, your legal minimum is higher. (At least 38 California cities currently have a local minimum wage above the state rate — this guide covers the highest-population ones.) Local minimum wage ordinances are based on where you physically work, not where you live or where your employer is based.
Several of the highest-volume cities just raised their rates again on July 1, 2026 — this guide includes both the rate through June 30 and the new rate that took effect July 1, so you can see exactly what changed.
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The baseline that applies everywhere in California, unless a city or county sets a higher local rate:
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| California statewide (most employers) | $16.90/hr |
| Fast food restaurant employees (covered chains) | $20.00/hr |
| Large hospitals/health systems (10,000+ employees) & dialysis clinics | $25.00/hr |
| Most other covered healthcare facilities | $23.00/hr |
Healthcare minimum wages have more tiers than the table above shows — smaller clinics, rural facilities, and certain skilled nursing facilities follow a slower schedule and may be below $23/hr in 2026. If you work in healthcare, check your specific facility type on the CA DIR healthcare worker minimum wage page rather than assuming the general rate above.
If your city isn't listed below, the statewide rate of $16.90/hr applies to you.
Bay Area cities — minimum wage 2026
The Bay Area has the highest concentration of cities with local minimum wage ordinances in the state, and most of them adjust every July 1 based on inflation.
| City | Jan–Jun 2026 | From Jul 1, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $19.18 | → | $19.61 |
| Berkeley | $19.18 | → | $19.61 |
| Emeryville | $19.90 | → | $20.34 |
| Fremont | $17.75 | → | $18.05 |
| Milpitas | $18.20 | → | $18.50 |
| Alameda | $17.46 | → | $17.76 |
San Francisco and Berkeley now share the highest general city minimum wage in California at $19.61/hr. Emeryville remains the single highest at $20.34/hr.
Several other Bay Area cities adjust their rates in January instead of July and are already at their 2026 rate: Mountain View ($19.70), Sunnyvale ($19.50), Santa Clara ($18.70), Palo Alto ($18.70), Redwood City ($18.65), Richmond ($19.18), San Jose ($18.45), San Mateo ($18.60), Santa Rosa ($18.21), South San Francisco ($18.15), and Oakland ($17.34).
Los Angeles area — minimum wage 2026
Los Angeles County has several overlapping ordinances — the rate depends on the exact city, and in some cases the neighborhood, where you work.
| City / Area | Jan–Jun 2026 | From Jul 1, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Los Angeles | $17.87 | → | $18.42 |
| Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas) | $17.81 | → | $18.47 |
| Santa Monica | $17.81 | → | $18.47 |
| Pasadena | $18.04 | → | $18.57 |
| Malibu | $17.27 | → | $17.91 |
Heads up: hotel workers in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Glendale have a separate, much higher minimum of $25.00/hr effective July 1, 2026 (plus a health benefit payment if not otherwise provided). If you work in hospitality, your minimum is likely higher than the general city rate above.
San Diego — minimum wage 2026
San Diego's ordinance runs on a January cycle instead of July, so its 2026 rate has already been in effect since the start of the year.
| City / Category | Rate (since Jan 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| City of San Diego (general) | $17.75/hr |
| San Diego County (outside city limits) | $16.90/hr (state rate) |
Starting July 1, 2026, San Diego also adds a separate hospitality minimum wage: $19.00/hr for covered hotels (150+ rooms) and amusement parks, and $21.06/hr for certain event centers.
Why does the rate depend on where I work, not where I live?
Local minimum wage ordinances apply based on the physical location of the work performed. If you live in a city with the $16.90 state minimum but commute into San Francisco to work, you're entitled to San Francisco's $19.61 — for the hours you actually work there. Most ordinances apply to anyone who works at least two hours within city limits in a given week, including remote and hybrid workers.
This also means that if you split your week between two cities — say, three days in Los Angeles and two in an unincorporated county area — different rates may apply to different days. Your employer is responsible for tracking this correctly, not you.
📍 Quick rule: when more than one minimum wage could apply to you (state, county, city, or industry-specific), you're always entitled to the highest one — never the lowest.
What if I'm not being paid my city's minimum wage?
This is one of the most common ways workers get underpaid in California — employers default to the $16.90 statewide rate without checking whether a higher local ordinance applies to where the work is actually performed. If your pay stub shows an hourly rate below your city's minimum, that's worth investigating.
Your immigration status doesn't matter for wage protections — all workers in California, regardless of status, are entitled to at least the applicable minimum wage. You can file a free, confidential wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner's Office if you believe you've been underpaid. This is general information, not legal advice.
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Try the Paycheck Checker »Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?
California's statewide minimum wage is $16.90 per hour as of January 1, 2026. However, many cities and counties set their own higher local minimum wage, and employers must pay whichever rate is higher.
What is the minimum wage in Los Angeles in 2026?
The City of Los Angeles minimum wage is $17.87 per hour through June 30, 2026, increasing to $18.42 per hour on July 1, 2026. Unincorporated Los Angeles County is $17.81, rising to $18.47 on July 1.
What is the minimum wage in San Francisco in 2026?
San Francisco's minimum wage is $19.18 per hour through June 30, 2026, increasing to $19.61 per hour on July 1, 2026 — among the highest in California.
Why do some California cities have a higher minimum wage than the state?
Cities and counties can pass local ordinances that set a minimum wage higher than the state's, usually tied to local cost of living. When a local rate exists, employers must pay the higher of the local or state rate — never the lower one.
Does the higher city minimum wage apply if I live outside the city but work inside it?
Yes. Local minimum wage ordinances are based on where the work is physically performed, not where the employee lives or where the employer is headquartered. Most ordinances cover anyone who works at least two hours within city limits in a given week.
What if my employer pays me less than my city's minimum wage?
That may be a wage violation. You can file a free, confidential wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner's Office regardless of your immigration status. Use our Paycheck Checker to estimate what you should have received first.