Minimum wage › California
Minimum wage and worker rights in California (2026)
Official data from the California Labor Commissioner's Office (DIR) and the U.S. Department of Labor, checked on October 5, 2026.
STATE MINIMUM WAGE
$16.90 /hourSince January 1, 2026.
Federal: $7.25.
Federal: $7.25.
Fast food (national chains): $20.00Health care: large systems (10,000+ FTE), dialysis clinics and large-county facilities: $25.00Health care: other covered facilities and medium-county facilities: $23.00Health care: community and rural clinics ($25 from July 1, 2027): $22.00Health care: rural or high public-payer hospitals: $19.28Announced: rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027.
No tip credit. Adjusted every year for inflation.
Overtime1.5× after 8 h a day or 40 h a weekDouble time after 12 h a day. 7th straight day: 1.5× for the first 8 h, double after that.
Sick leaveAt least 40 h (5 days) paid a year1 h per 30 worked, or 40 h up front each year. All employers. Not paid out at separation.
VacationEarned vacation must be paid outNo law requires vacation. Earned vacation can't be forfeited and is paid at separation. Reasonable caps are allowed.
Paid family leaveState insurance (SDI/PFL): up to 8 weeks of paid family leave at 70%–90% of your wages.
Your city may pay more42 cities and counties have their own minimum wage. See the table below.
Cities and counties with their own minimum wage
| PLACE | MINIMUM | TIPPED | SINCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlamedaIf you work at least 2 h a week in the City of Alameda, any employer size | $17.76 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| BelmontIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.95 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| BerkeleyIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $19.61 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| BurlingameIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $17.86 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| CupertinoIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.70 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| Daly CityIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $17.50 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| East Palo AltoIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $17.90 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| El CerritoIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.82 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| EmeryvilleIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $20.34 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| Foster CityIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $17.85 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| FremontIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size; excludes employees of 501(c)(3) nonprofits | $18.05 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| GlendaleOnly hotel workers at hotels with 60+ rooms; everyone else gets the state minimum | — | — | |
| Half Moon BayIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $17.91 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| HaywardIf you work at least 2 h a week in the city. Main rate is for employers with 26+ employees | $17.79 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| Long BeachOnly hotel workers; everyone else gets the state minimum | — | — | |
| Los AltosIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.70 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| Los Angeles (city)If you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.42 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas)Only unincorporated areas (e.g., East LA, Altadena, Marina del Rey), not inside cities | $18.47 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| MalibuIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $17.91 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| Menlo ParkIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $17.55 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| MilpitasIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.50 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| Mountain ViewIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $19.70 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| NovatoIf you work at least 2 h a week in the city. Main rate is for employers with 100+ employees | $17.73 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| OaklandIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $17.34 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| Palo AltoIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.70 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| PasadenaIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.57 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| PetalumaIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.31 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| Redwood CityIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.65 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| RichmondIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $19.18 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| San CarlosIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $17.75 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| San DiegoIf you work at least 2 h in one or more weeks of the year inside city limits, any employer size | $17.75 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| San FranciscoIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $19.61 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| San JoseIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.45 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| San MateoIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.60 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| San Mateo County (unincorporated areas)Only unincorporated areas (e.g., North Fair Oaks, Emerald Hills, El Granada), not inside its cities | $17.95 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| Santa ClaraIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.70 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| Santa MonicaIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.47 | — | July 1, 2026 |
| Santa RosaEvery hour worked inside city limits, any employer size; if based outside and only occasionally in the city, only after more than 2 h that week | $18.21 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| Sonoma (city)City of Sonoma only (not the county), at least 2 h a week. Main rate: employers with 26+ employees | $18.47 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| South San FranciscoIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $18.15 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| SunnyvaleIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $19.50 | — | January 1, 2026 |
| West HollywoodIf you work at least 2 h a week inside city limits, any employer size | $20.25 | — | January 1, 2026 |
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Open Work →Official sources
California Labor Commissioner's Office (DIR)dir.ca.govMinimum wage · Californiadir.ca.govMinimum wage · Californiadol.govSick leave · Californiadir.ca.govVacation · Californiadir.ca.govAlameda: minimum wagealamedaca.govBelmont: minimum wagebelmont.govBerkeley: minimum wageberkeleyca.govBurlingame: minimum wageburlingame.orgCupertino: minimum wagecupertino.govDaly City: minimum wagedalycity.orgEast Palo Alto: minimum wagecityofepa.orgEl Cerrito: minimum wageelcerrito.govEl Cerrito: minimum wageel-cerrito.orgEmeryville: minimum wageemeryville.orgFoster City: minimum wagefostercity.orgFremont: minimum wagefremont.govGlendale: minimum wageglendaleca.govHalf Moon Bay: minimum wagehalfmoonbay.govHayward: minimum wagehayward-ca.govLong Beach: minimum wagelongbeach.govLos Altos: minimum wagelosaltosca.govLos Angeles (city): minimum wagewagesla.lacity.govLos Angeles (city): minimum wagecityclerk.lacity.orgLos Angeles County (unincorporated areas): minimum wagedcba.lacounty.govMalibu: minimum wagemalibucity.orgMenlo Park: minimum wagemenlopark.govMilpitas: minimum wagemilpitas.govMountain View: minimum wageecondev.mountainview.govNovato: minimum wagenovato.govOakland: minimum wageoaklandca.govPalo Alto: minimum wagepaloalto.govPasadena: minimum wagecityofpasadena.netPetaluma: minimum wagecityofpetaluma.orgRedwood City: minimum wageredwoodcity.orgRichmond: minimum wagerichmondca.govSan Carlos: minimum wagecityofsancarlos.orgSan Diego: minimum wagesandiego.govSan Francisco: minimum wagesf.govSan Jose: minimum wagesanjoseca.govSan Mateo: minimum wagecityofsanmateo.orgSan Mateo County (unincorporated areas): minimum wagesmcgov.orgSanta Clara: minimum wagesantaclaraca.govSanta Monica: minimum wagesantamonica.govSanta Rosa: minimum wagesrcity.orgSonoma (city): minimum wagesonomacity.orgSouth San Francisco: minimum wagessfca.govSunnyvale: minimum wagesunnyvale.ca.govWest Hollywood: minimum wageweho.org
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