In this guide8 sections
On July 1, 2025, minimum wages went up in a number of California cities and counties, including Los Angeles, Pasadena, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Berkeley and Emeryville. Those rates rose again on July 1, 2026. Whatever the date, the rule is the same: your employer must pay the highest minimum wage that applies to you, whether it’s the state, city, county or industry rate.
Key takeaways
- The California minimum wage is $16.90 an hour in 2026 and rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027.
- Many cities adjust their minimum wage every July 1. As of July 1, 2026, the City of Los Angeles rate is $18.42 and Pasadena’s is $18.57.
- Fast food and health care workers have separate, higher statewide minimums.
- If you were underpaid, you can generally recover the difference plus an equal amount in liquidated damages, interest and penalties.
What changed on July 1, 2025
The July 2025 increases were annual cost-of-living adjustments under local ordinances; the state rate was then $16.50. Here is how several local rates moved then and after the July 1, 2026 adjustment:
| City or county | Rate from July 1, 2025 | Rate from July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (city) | $17.87 | $18.42 |
| Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas) | $17.81 | $18.47 |
| Santa Monica | $17.81 | $18.47 |
| Pasadena | $18.04 | $18.57 |
| San Francisco | $19.18 | $19.61 |
| Berkeley | $19.18 | $19.61 |
| Emeryville | $19.90 | $20.34 |
Some cities adjust on January 1 instead. For current rates in about 40 cities and counties, see our California minimum wage by city tool.
The statewide minimum wage
The statewide minimum wage applies to all employers regardless of size. It is $16.90 an hour as of January 1, 2026, according to the Labor Commissioner, and the Department of Industrial Relations has announced an increase to $17.40 on January 1, 2027. Any local rate below $17.40 will be superseded by the state rate on that date. Our guide to the 2026 and 2027 minimum wage covers the statewide changes.
Industry minimum wages
- Fast food. Workers at limited-service restaurants in national chains with at least 60 establishments nationwide must be paid at least $20.00 an hour, a rate in effect since April 1, 2024.
- Health care. Under SB 525, covered health care workers have tiered minimums. Workers at large health systems and dialysis clinics, who reached $24.00 on July 1, 2025, moved to $25.00 on July 1, 2026. Other covered facilities have lower tiers that step up over time.
- Hotels and airports. Some cities, including Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Long Beach, set separate, higher minimums for hotel or airport workers.
Which rate applies to you
You are owed the highest rate that applies to the work you do and where you do it. If you work in a city with its own minimum wage, the city rate generally applies to hours worked inside city limits. Many local ordinances, including Los Angeles’s, cover employees who work at least two hours in a week within the city.
Hypothetical example. Luis works 40 hours a week at a Pasadena restaurant that isn’t part of a large chain. If his employer paid him the $16.90 state rate after July 1, 2026, instead of Pasadena’s $18.57, he would be short $1.67 an hour, or $66.80 a week. That’s more than $3,400 a year, before damages and penalties.
A higher local minimum wage generally does not change the salary needed to be an exempt employee. That threshold is based on the state minimum wage: $70,304 a year in 2026. See our guide to the exempt salary threshold.
What to do if you’re paid less than the minimum wage
- Check your pay stubs. Your stub must show your hourly rates and hours worked (Labor Code §226).
- Note where you worked. Record the city for each shift.
- Calculate the gap. Our wage and hour claim calculator can help.
- File a claim or get advice. You can file a wage claim with the Labor Commissioner, contact your city’s wage enforcement office if it has one, or talk to a lawyer.
If you’re owed minimum wage, you can generally recover the unpaid wages, interest and attorney’s fees (Labor Code §1194), plus liquidated damages equal to the unpaid wages (Labor Code §1194.2). Most wage claims must be brought within three years. Retaliating against you for complaining about pay is prohibited (Labor Code §98.6).
Frequently asked questions
Do small businesses pay a lower minimum wage?
Not under state law; since 2023 the state rate is the same for all employers. A few local ordinances still have size-based tiers.
My employer says the city rate doesn’t apply to me. What should I check?
Check where you actually work and how many hours you spend there each week. Many ordinances cover anyone who works at least two hours a week inside city limits, regardless of where the employer is based.
Can I be fired for asking for the correct minimum wage?
No. Labor Code §98.6 prohibits retaliation for wage complaints, and California’s wage laws protect workers regardless of immigration status.
How far back can I recover unpaid minimum wages?
Generally three years from the date you file, and in court an Unfair Competition Law claim can reach back four years.
Talk to a California employment lawyer
Employees First Labor Law represents workers exclusively in minimum wage and other wage cases across California. We offer free virtual consultations. Contact us online or call (310) 853-3461.
This article is general information about California law as of 2026, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
