California Minimum Wage 2026: $16.90 Statewide, and Where Local Rates Run Higher
California’s statewide minimum wage is $16.90 an hour, effective January 1, 2026. California does not allow a tip credit — tipped employees get the full $16.90 in direct wages regardless of tips. Dozens of cities and counties set their own minimum above the state rate, and the highest of state, local, or industry-specific rate is the one that applies to a given work location.
California at a glance
| Current rate | $16.90 / hour |
|---|---|
| Effective | January 1, 2026 |
| Tipped cash wage | $16.90 / hour — no tip credit allowed |
| Next scheduled change | $17.40 / hour on January 1, 2027 (then adjusts every January 1 for inflation, capped at 3.5%) |
Local rates that run above the state minimum
California is unusual in how many cities and counties set their own minimum wage above the state’s $16.90, and the local rate governs whenever it’s higher. Verified local rates as of this page’s last update:
| Location | Rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| Emeryville | $20.34 | July 1, 2026 |
| West Hollywood | $20.25 | January 1, 2026 |
| San Francisco | $19.61 | July 1, 2026 |
| Berkeley | $19.61 | July 1, 2026 |
| Los Angeles (city) | $18.42 | July 1, 2026 |
These are a sample, not the full list — California has dozens of cities and counties with their own ordinance, and several industries (fast food, health care) carry their own statewide minimums above $16.90 as well. Check the specific city or county before setting pay for a location not listed here.
Southern California minimum wage by city
Several Southern California cities, plus unincorporated Los Angeles County, set a local minimum above the $16.90 state rate. Most of them adjust on July 1, so the rate in force for the first half of 2026 was lower than the rate in force now. Rates from each city or county’s official notice:
| Location | Rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| West Hollywood | $20.25 | January 1, 2026 (non-hotel employees) |
| Pasadena | $18.57 | July 1, 2026 (was $18.04) |
| Santa Monica | $18.47 | July 1, 2026 |
| Los Angeles County (unincorporated) | $18.47 | July 1, 2026 |
| Los Angeles (city) | $18.42 | July 1, 2026 (was $17.87) |
| Malibu | $17.91 | July 1, 2026 |
| San Diego (city) | $17.75 | January 1, 2026 (was $17.25) |
Some of these cities also set separate, higher minimums for hotel workers (Santa Monica’s hotel worker rate is $25.00 from July 1, 2026, for example). Where a city has no ordinance of its own, the $16.90 state minimum applies.
What this means for hiring
Post the wage that applies to the actual work location, not the statewide $16.90, if the location falls under a higher local or industry rate — a job ad or offer that undercuts the local minimum is a compliance problem before it’s a recruiting one. Because California has no tip credit, tipped roles here should be priced and advertised at the full applicable minimum, not a lower cash-wage figure that would be legal in most other states.
For breaks, overtime, final paychecks and hiring rules in California, see our California labor laws guide for employers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current CA minimum wage?
$16.90 an hour, effective January 1, 2026, for employers not covered by a higher local or industry-specific minimum. The California Department of Industrial Relations has announced that the statewide rate rises to $17.40 an hour on January 1, 2027.
What is the minimum wage for servers in California?
The same as for everyone else: $16.90 an hour statewide in 2026, or the local rate where it is higher. California allows no tip credit; the Labor Commissioner’s minimum wage FAQ states that an employer may not use an employee’s tips as a credit toward the minimum wage, and tips belong to the worker. The statewide rate rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027, per the Department of Industrial Relations, so budget server pay at the full rate.
What is the minimum wage in Dublin, CA?
$16.90 an hour in 2026, the state rate. Dublin does not appear in the UC Berkeley Labor Center inventory of local minimum wage ordinances that the Department of Industrial Relations points employers to, so the state minimum applies there. It rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027. Several nearby Alameda County cities, including Fremont, Oakland and Hayward (for larger employers), set higher local rates, so price each work location separately.
What is California minimum wage per year for a full-time worker?
About $35,152 a year in 2026. That is the $16.90 statewide hourly minimum multiplied by 2,080 hours, or 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before overtime. From January 1, 2027, when the rate rises to $17.40, the same full-time year comes to $36,192. Where a city or industry minimum is higher, the annual figure is higher too. Exempt salaried staff need at least twice the full-time minimum, $70,304 in 2026.
What is the minimum wage in Burlingame, CA?
$17.86 an hour, effective January 1, 2026, according to the City of Burlingame. That is above the $16.90 state rate, so employers must pay the city rate for work performed in Burlingame. The rate adjusts every January 1 with the Consumer Price Index, and the city lists $18.47 for January 1, 2027. Burlingame makes no exception for tipped employees, and California allows no tip credit.
What is the minimum wage in Roseville, CA?
$16.90 an hour in 2026, the California state rate. Roseville does not appear in the UC Berkeley Labor Center inventory of local minimum wage ordinances that the Department of Industrial Relations points employers to, so the state minimum applies. It rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027. Tipped employees in Roseville get the full rate, because California allows no tip credit.
Hiring hourly workers in California?
We can tell you honestly whether your job ads are priced to the current wage floor — before you spend anything.
Book a DemoPart of Boostpoint’s minimum wage by state series.