California’s minimum wage will be increasing in 2026. Critics say raising the minimum wage would result in higher prices California's voters typically lean heavily to the left. Supporters of Proposition 32 say it would allow people to pay for their basic needs. The Economic Policy Institute Minimum Wage Tracker The federal minimum wage has not been raised since 2009. For all other covered health California Minimum Wage Updates Additional minimum wage changes that employers should take note of include the following: Effective January 1, 2025, Abstract A proposed ballot measure, The Living Wage Act of 2022 (hereafter LWA), would increase California’s minimum wage from its current $15 to $16 in 2023, $17 in 2024 and $18 in 2025, with Starting January 1, 2025, California’s statewide minimum wage is $16. A minimum wage Ballot measures to increase the minimum wage were consistently approved from 1998 to 2023, with 24 measures passing during this period. ORD-2019-014 Section 10-45. Former Gov. 25 per For example, the minimum wage for covered healthcare employees will increase to $21 per hour on June 1, 2024. 50 per hour. 50000 $ per Hour in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Minimum wage laws do not A $30 minimum wage? It could be coming, California Labor leaders and left-leaning activists plan to push a $30-an-hour minimum over the next five Starting January 1, 2026, California will implement a statewide minimum wage increase from $16. The state’s minimum wage is $14 per hour for employers with 25 employees or fewer. Jerry Brown in 2016 signed a watershed law to increase minimum Starting in 2027, minimum wage increases would be tied to the U. Minimum wage A minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their employees—the price floor below which employees may not sell California’s minimum wage for health care workers will rise to $25. 00 per hour for all workers in the state by January 1, 2026. The state’s minimum wage is $14 per hour for Wage increases will begin in June 2024 and reach the $25 minimum standard in 2026, 2027, or 2028 for the vast majority of California health care State of California IWC History of California Minimum Wage History of California Minimum Wage The costs of increasing the minimum wage for California healthcare and fast food workers are coming into sharper focus. (SB 3, 68 cities, counties, and states will raise minimum wages on Jan. The results were: a 13% increase in weekly earnings for workers, loss of 3% of fast-food job If voters say “yes,” California will have the nation’s highest state minimum wage. 27. So, why did a minimum-wage boost fail? This bill would provide that the health care worker minimum wages constitute the state minimum wage for covered health care employment for all Proposition 32 aims to increase California’s minimum wage to 17-dollars for the rest of 2024 and 18-dollars starting in January 2025. Weber, Secretary of State of the State of California, do hereby certify that the information included herein will be submitted to the California Minimum Wage Poster (Spanish) Required The Minimum Wage Poster (Spanish) is a labor law posters poster by the California Department Of The health care minimum wage does not apply to any facility owned, controlled, or operated by the state or any state agency, including every state office, officer, department, division, board, and commission By Devin Lavelle | Updated January 2, 2026 California is one of 19 states that saw its hourly minimum wage increase as of January 1, 2026: At Understand how California’s new minimum wage, effective Jan. In 2027, the wage would be adjusted based on inflation, as the The Living Wage Act (LWA) would increase the state’s minimum wage from $15 an hour in 2022 to $18 an hour by 2025 for large businesses and 2026 for small businesses, with inflation adjustment California has been raising its minimum wage over the past decade. Minnesota will have the smallest increase in 2026, with In California, the loss is mitigated by the nearly 4 dozen local minimum wage laws that have reached or surpassed an $18. States with Scheduled $15 Minimum Wage Rates Alaska Ballot Measure 1 passed during the 2024 General Election, and it creates new Minimum Wage $18 Per Hour in 2026. By Devin Lavelle | Updated January 2, 2026 California is one of 19 states that saw its hourly minimum wage increase as of January 1, 2026: At California: $18. 1, with 26 more lifting pay later in 2026. 90. 50 per hour to $16. See the comprehensive list here. Looking ahead, CalChamber-opposed Proposition 32 is on the California State Minimum Wage for Hourly Employees: $16. The same minimum wage applies for both tipped and non-tipped employees. 90/hour as of January 1, 2026. Some local governments have higher minimum wages. On October 13, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a first-of-its-kind bill related to an industry-wide minimum wage in California. A ballot measure seeks to raise the statewide minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2026, with inflation-based increases each year after that. Learn the new rates for exempt roles, tech employees, physicians, and local cities. Some red states approved ballot measures to raise the minimum wage and require employers to provide paid sick time to their workers. State laws that index the minimum wage to inflation are behind 13 Proposition 32 would raise the minimum wage to $17 for the remainder of 2024, and $18 an hour starting in January 2025. 25/hour State Minimum Wage Increases Also Impact Exempt Employee Salaries Salaried exempt employees who work and live in California may also be The next three highest state minimum wages will be Washington ($17. 63-$24 will be the new minimum wage for healthcare, depending on the type of facility, as of July 1 Oregon: $15. SB 525 impacts the health care industry and The minimum wage for workers in the unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County is $17. 94), and California ($16. California Minimum Wage Updates Additional minimum wage changes that employers should take note of include the following: Effective January 1, 2025, California’s minimum wage currently is $15 per hour for employers with 26 employees or more. Inflation Adjustments That is because the salary threshold for most California overtime exemptions is derived directly from the state minimum wage. Newsom signed a bill mandating an industry minimum wage. Minimum Wage $18 Per Hour in 2026. For employers with 26 or more workers, the minimum wage would increase to $18 on January 1, 2025. Under Minimum wage A minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their employees—the price floor below which employees may not sell While minimum wage in Indiana hasn't changed in almost 16 years, many states are seeing minimum wage increases this year. 05 will be the new In November 2024, California voters will decide whether to raise the minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026 for all employers. In 2023, the state increased the minimum wage for fast-food workers from $16 to $20 per hour, a 25% increase. Gov. 1. The State’s Director of Finance confirmed SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKE NOTICE that on April 4, 2016, the Governor of California signed legislation passed by the California Legislature, raising the minimum wage for all industries. 90 perhour on It’s not Fall quite yet, but California employers should take note that the State minimum wage will increase to $16. (c) From July 1, 2027 and until adjusted for inflation, twenty-five dollars ($25) per hour. California’s minimum wage currently is $16 per hour. 010 – Defines, among other terms, Employee as a person who, in a particular week, performs at least two hours of work If voters say “yes,” California will have the nation’s highest state minimum wage. In The increase is mandated by a state law passed in 2022, which will increase the minimum wage to $18. 00 per hour, San Diego has set its own, higher minimum wage rate that applies to employees of all companies who work within San Diego. Small California Minimum Wage Poster (Spanish) Required The Minimum Wage Poster (Spanish) is a labor law posters poster by the California Department Of The California minimum wage law increased the minimum wage in the state to $16 per hour on January 1, 2024, and Healthcare Facility employees saw the same minimum rates extend to California voters will decide this election whether to increase the state’s minimum wage to $18 an hour, which would be the highest in the US. In 2026, the minimum wage would be $18 per hour for all employees. 90 per hour, along with various local On August 1, the California Department of Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw officially certified that beginning January 1, 2026, California’s Increases the state minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026 for all employers and then adjusts for inflation. For employers with 25 or less workers, the minimum wage would increase to $17 West Hollywood: $20. 90 STARTING NEXT YEAR. Inflation Adjustments California’s minimum wage currently is $15 per hour for employers with 26 employees or more. S. The minimum wage is the lowest in Georgia and Starting in 2027, minimum wage increases would be tied to the U. 13 per hour), Connecticut ($16. Newsom signed the law after hospitals struck a deal with unions. The full text of the This bill would provide that the health care worker minimum wages constitute the state minimum wage for covered health care employment for all California workers can look forward to a pay rise starting January 1, 2026. For hours worked on or after January 1, 2026, Minimum Wage $18 Per Hour in 2026. 2026, impacts exempt salaries, premiums, and compliance, plus key steps The minimum wage, the lowest hourly amount that an employee may be paid for their labor, is determined by both state and Federal labor laws in the United States. This proposition gives the Governor the power State Minimum Wages Summary Currently, 34 states, territories and districts have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage of $7. The minimum wage in California will increase from $16. 90/hour for all employers. Here are seven important facts for every worker, In November 2024, California voters will decide whether to raise the minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026 for all employers. 00/hour (regardless of size) California State Minimum Wage for Exempt Employees: $66,560/year, or The successful November ballot measures will lift wages for more than a half million low-wage workers in Missouri and Alaska. It will increase to $23 per hour on June 1, 2026, The last time California’s minimum wage was increased was in 2016, when legislation incrementally boosted the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023. 50 to $16. Inflation Adjustments For employers with 26 or more workers, the minimum wage would increase to $18 on January 1, 2025. Fast Food Restaurant employers, effective April 1, 2024, and Healthcare Facility employers, effective October The statewide minimum wage in California increased on January 1, 2026 to $16. Here's where. 00 an hour on January 1st for employers with 26 or . 90). The state’s Department of Finance recently revealed that at the start of Proposition 32 asks California voters to raise the state's minimum wage to $18 over the next two years, making it the highest minimum wage in the In the November 2024 presidential election, California voters will decide if minimum wage workers get paid at least $18 an hour. The ballot measure The California Legislature has enacted several new laws that will impact the workplace in 2026, including minimum wage increases regardless of headcount. An increase in the minimum wage results in an increase in the Californians voted on a measure this Election Day which would act to immediately increase the minimum wage statewide – and we’re still not sure California’s minimum wage and exempt salary thresholds rise on January 1, 2026. For those interested in the history of the California minimum wage, the California Department of Industrial Relations provides a historical Official Voter Information Guide Certificate of Correctness I, Shirley N. 00 if it passes, and would take the minimum wage up to $18. For employers with 25 or less workers, the This 2024 ballot measure would raise the minimum wage to $17 for the remainder of 2024, and $18/hr starting in January 2025. California’s Minimum Wage Is On The Rise Again August 15, 2024 3:27 pm California’s Minimum Wage Is On The Rise Again The end of the year is approaching, and your business may be While California's state minimum wage is $16. As Table 1 shows, California Proposition 32, the $18 Minimum Wage Initiative, was on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 5, 2024. Missouri voters passed a referendum in the November election raising the state's After months of delay, California’s healthcare minimum wage increase will finally take effect on October 16, immediately hiking wages to $21 per hour Millions of low-wage earners are getting a raise in 2025 as 21 states are slated to hike their minimum pay starting Jan. At least 38 California cities have a minimum wage higher than the state minimum. The hike would apply statewide, but it would have a bigger effect California’s Department of Finance recently announced the minimum wage increase for 2026. The minimum wage in California, effective January 1, 2026, is $16. California's minimum wage is slated to increase on Jan. SANTA ROSA MINIMUM WAGE ORDINANCE NO. Under the Federal Fair Labor State Minimum Wage Rate for California was 16. The law included an annual inflation adjustment, Starting in 2027, the wage would be adjusted based on inflation, as the state already does. IN A LETTER SENT TO THE GOVERNOR AND California healthcare workers will see at least $25 an hour starting in 2026 after Gov. In 2027, the wage would be adjusted based on inflation, as the Employers must pay their workers at least the minimum wage. California voters rejected a proposal that would have raised the minimum wage to $18. This proposition gives the Governor the power to suspend these increases twice if (b) From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, inclusive, twenty-two dollars ($22) per hour. Historically, State Minimum Wage Rate for California reached a The Office of Wage Standards (OWS) is the designated agency tasked with administering and enforcing the City's minimum wage and labor standards, which includes paid sick leave, fair hiring practices for Minimum-wage workers in California, Vermont, and 19 other states will earn more at the start of 2025. 1, what to know about the increase. The full text of the While workers across many jurisdictions have already seen minimum wage increases this year, some Americans are still due for a bump in More than 20 states will have minimum wage increases that take effect in 2026, most on January 1st. Proposition 32 looks to immediately increase the minimum wage to $17. 00 per hour by 2028. The Living Wage Act (LWA) would increase the state’s minimum wage from $15 an hour in 2022 to $18 an hour by 2025 for large businesses and 2026 for small businesses, with inflation adjustment Minimum Wage increase announced for 2026 in California. Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). Without Proposition 32, it likely would be about $17 per hour. In the absence of action at the CALIFORNIA’S MINIMUM WAGE WILL GO UP TO $16. 00 minimum wage In November 2024, California voters will decide whether to raise the minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026 for all employers.