In this guide7 sections
Los Angeles’ “Olympic wage” for hotel and airport workers survived a 2025 referendum attempt and took effect on September 8, 2025. In May 2026, the City Council slowed the schedule: covered workers earn at least $25.00 an hour as of July 1, 2026, and the $30 rate now arrives on January 1, 2030, rather than in 2028. If you work at a covered Los Angeles hotel or at the airport, here is what you are owed and how to enforce it.
Key takeaways
- A 2025 petition to put the ordinance on the ballot fell short of valid signatures, so the wage increase took effect September 8, 2025, at $22.50 an hour.
- After a May 26, 2026 amendment, the hotel and airport minimum wage is $25.00 as of July 1, 2026, rising to $30.00 on January 1, 2030.
- Employers that don’t provide qualifying health benefits must add a health benefit payment to hourly pay; for hotel workers it is $4.25 an hour as of July 1, 2026.
- Workers can file a complaint with the city’s Office of Wage Standards regardless of immigration status, and retaliation is prohibited.
How the ballot fight played out
The City Council passed the ordinance in May 2025. Hotel and airline industry groups then gathered signatures to force a referendum, which suspended the law while the petition was reviewed. According to news reports, the group submitted about 140,774 signatures, but only 84,007 were verified as valid, short of the 92,998 needed. The city clerk announced the result on September 8, 2025, and the ordinance took effect that day. Opponents alleged problems with the signature review, and unions had made their own complaints about how signatures were gathered.
On May 26, 2026, the Council amended the ordinance to stretch out the increases, effective June 29, 2026. Legal-industry reports tied the change to the withdrawal of a separate proposed ballot measure to repeal the city’s business tax.
The current wage schedule
| Effective date | Minimum hourly wage (covered hotel and airport workers) |
|---|---|
| September 8, 2025 | $22.50 |
| July 1, 2026 | $25.00 |
| July 1, 2027 | $25.50 |
| July 1, 2028 | $28.50 |
| July 1, 2029 | $29.00 |
| January 1, 2030 | $30.00, then yearly cost-of-living adjustments starting July 1, 2030 |
For hotel workers, the health benefit payment is $4.25 an hour as of July 1, 2026, and $6.00 as of July 1, 2027. Starting July 1, 2028, it is scheduled to match the airport worker rate. If your employer doesn’t provide qualifying health benefits, it must pay the health benefit amount as additional hourly wages. Rates can change, so check the Office of Wage Standards before relying on a figure.
How it compares with other minimum wages
As of 2026, the statewide minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (Labor Commissioner FAQ), and the general City of Los Angeles minimum wage is $18.42 an hour as of July 1, 2026. When more than one rate applies, your employer must pay the highest one. Compare rates on our California minimum wage by city page.
Example (hypothetical): Ana is a housekeeper at a large Los Angeles hotel that offers no health plan. Starting July 1, 2026, she should earn at least $25.00 an hour plus the $4.25 health benefit payment as wages, for $29.25 an hour. If her pay stub shows less, she may be owed the difference for every hour worked.
What to do if you are underpaid
- Check your pay stubs. Compare your hourly rate and any health benefit payment to the schedule. See California pay stub requirements.
- Keep your own records. Note your hours, job title, and any notices posted at work.
- Estimate what you’re owed. Our wage and hour calculator can help.
- File a complaint or get advice. The city’s Office of Wage Standards accepts complaints and says it won’t ask about immigration status. The ordinance also allows workers to go to court for unpaid wages and penalties.
Employers may not retaliate against you for asserting these rights. State law separately protects workers who complain about unpaid wages (Labor Code §98.6).
Frequently asked questions
Is the $30 Olympic wage in effect now?
Not yet. As of July 1, 2026, the minimum is $25.00 an hour, and it reaches $30.00 on January 1, 2030.
Which hotels are covered?
The city’s hotel worker wage generally applies to hotels in Los Angeles with 60 or more guest rooms, and some smaller hotels near the airport may also be covered. Check with the Office of Wage Standards if you are unsure.
Does the Olympic wage cover restaurant or retail workers?
Generally no. It covers hotel and airport workers. Other workers in the City of Los Angeles are covered by the general city minimum wage of $18.42 as of July 1, 2026.
Can I be fired for asking about my pay?
Retaliation for asserting your wage rights is prohibited under both city and state law.
Talk to a California employment lawyer
Employees First Labor Law represents workers exclusively. If you work at a Los Angeles hotel or airport and think you are being paid below the required rate, we offer free virtual consultations. Contact us 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.
