Sunnyvale Minimum Wage 2026 ($19.50) & Worker Rights

The Sunnyvale minimum wage is $19.50 an hour in 2026, effective January 1, 2026. Anyone who works at least two hours a week in Sunnyvale for a covered employer must be paid at least that much for the hours worked in the city, whatever the size of the business. That is $2.60 an hour more than California’s $16.90 minimum wage, and the second-highest city rate in Santa Clara County, after Mountain View.

Being paid the state rate instead of the Sunnyvale rate costs a full-time worker about $104 a week, or more than $5,400 over a year, before penalties. To see how Sunnyvale compares with nearby cities, check our California minimum wage by city guide.

This guide explains who Sunnyvale’s ordinance covers, the few exceptions the City recognizes, which state laws (like paid sick leave) still apply, what is known about 2027, and how to report unpaid wages.

Sunnyvale minimum wage 2026: $19.50 an hour

The Sunnyvale City Council adopted the current Minimum Wage Ordinance on April 19, 2016. It raised the rate to $15.00 by 2018 and has adjusted it every January 1 since 2019, based on the regional Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco Bay Area.

Effective date	Sunnyvale rate	California rate
Jan. 1, 2024	$18.55	$16.00
Jan. 1, 2025	$19.00	$16.50
Jan. 1, 2026	$19.50	$16.90
Jan. 1, 2027	Not yet posted by the City	$17.40

There is one rate for everyone. The City’s FAQ states that the ordinance has no small business exemption and that workers under 18 must also be paid the full $19.50.

By the numbers$19.50

Who is covered by the Sunnyvale minimum wage

According to the City, the ordinance covers any person who performs at least two hours of work in a week within Sunnyvale city limits for an employer that maintains a facility in Sunnyvale or is subject to the Sunnyvale business tax. That includes:

• Part-time and full-time workers who meet the two-hour test.
• Workers who live elsewhere. Residency does not matter; what counts is where the work is done.
• Employees of out-of-town companies that still perform work in Sunnyvale. Moving headquarters to a neighboring city does not take an employer out of the ordinance.
• Residential care facilities, regardless of size or type, according to the City.
• Undocumented workers. The City says it investigates wage claims without regard to immigration status and will not ask about it.

The City recognizes a few exceptions. An employer’s parents, spouse, children and domestic partner are not covered. CPUC-licensed rideshare companies do not have to pay the Sunnyvale rate, while taxi companies with a City franchise do. Salaried employees who properly qualify as exempt under California law are governed by state rules, which require a salary of at least twice the state minimum wage for full-time work.

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Tips, benefits and employer duties

Your employer cannot count your tips, or fringe benefits such as health insurance, vacation or sick leave, toward the Sunnyvale minimum wage. The full $19.50 must be paid as wages for every hour worked in the city.

Employers must also:

• Post the City’s official minimum wage notice in the workplace (the City publishes it in English, Spanish and Simplified Chinese).
• Document all hours worked and keep the records for four years.
• Give each new employee the employer’s name, business address and phone number in writing.
• Not retaliate or take adverse action against anyone for exercising their rights under the ordinance.

What happens to the Sunnyvale minimum wage in 2027

Sunnyvale adjusts its rate every January 1 for inflation. When we checked the City’s minimum wage page in early October 2026, it still listed the 2026 rate and had not posted a 2027 figure. The City’s 2026 notices were dated October 2025, so check the City’s page later this fall.

California’s minimum wage rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027. Sunnyvale’s 2026 rate is already well above that, so the higher city rate will continue to apply to work in Sunnyvale.

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Sector wages that can be higher

• Fast food: California requires $20.00 an hour for most workers at limited-service restaurants in national chains with more than 60 establishments. That is higher than Sunnyvale’s rate.
• Health care: under SB 525, covered health care workers earn between $19.28 and $25.00 an hour as of July 1, 2026, depending on the facility. Depending on the tier, the Sunnyvale rate may still be higher.

When more than one rule applies, you are owed whichever rate is highest.

By the numbersTwo hours

Paid sick leave, scheduling and other protections

We did not find a Sunnyvale paid sick leave, predictive scheduling, hotel worker or right-of-recall ordinance, and the City’s worker materials cover only the minimum wage. California law fills those gaps. Under Labor Code 246, you earn at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and may use at least 40 hours or five days a year. Learn more in our guide to California paid sick leave rights.

If you were laid off in a recent cutback, the Sunnyvale layoffs page and our Santa Clara County layoffs tracker list WARN notices filed with the state.

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How to report unpaid minimum wage in Sunnyvale

1. Gather records. Pay stubs, schedules, and your own log of hours worked in Sunnyvale. Our wage and hour calculator can estimate what you are owed.
2. Contact the City. Sunnyvale’s Economic Development Division handles minimum wage questions and complaints: 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, (408) 730-7902, minimumwage@sunnyvale.ca.gov. Be ready to give your name and contact information, your employer’s name and address, your manager’s name, the type of work you do, and how and when you are paid. The City says its services are free and confidential.
3. File a state claim if needed. The California Labor Commissioner’s San Jose office is at 224 Airport Parkway, Suite 300, (408) 277-1266. Discrimination complaints go to the Civil Rights Department, generally within three years.
4. Talk to a lawyer about a civil claim for unpaid wages, penalties and interest under city and state law.

California wage claims generally must be brought within three years (four years in some cases), so do not wait.

💡 Example: Ana works 20 hours a week at a Sunnyvale café and is paid $16.90, the state minimum. Sunnyvale required $19.50 in 2026, so she is short $2.60 an hour: $52.00 a week ($2.60 × 20), or $1,040.00 over 20 weeks, before penalties and interest. (Hypothetical.)

Minimum wage problems often come with other wage and hour violations, such as off-the-clock work or missed meal breaks. We represent workers throughout California, including Sunnyvale; our closest office is in Fresno.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in Sunnyvale in 2026?

$19.50 an hour, effective January 1, 2026, up from $19.00 in 2025.

Does the Sunnyvale minimum wage apply to small businesses?

Yes. The City says the ordinance has no small business exemption. Anyone who works at least two hours a week in Sunnyvale for a covered employer must be paid at least $19.50.

Do teenagers get the Sunnyvale minimum wage?

Yes. According to the City, employees under 18 who work at least two hours a week in Sunnyvale must be paid the same $19.50 rate.

Can my employer count tips toward the Sunnyvale minimum wage?

No. Tips and fringe benefits such as health insurance, vacation and sick leave cannot be credited toward the City minimum wage.

Who do I call about unpaid wages in Sunnyvale?

The City of Sunnyvale Economic Development Division at (408) 730-7902 or minimumwage@sunnyvale.ca.gov, or the California Labor Commissioner’s San Jose office at (408) 277-1266.

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