California Minimum Wage 2026: What Workers Need to Know

As of January 1, 2026, California’s statewide minimum wage is $16.90 per hour, and it applies to nearly every employee no matter how large or small their employer is. Many California cities set their own higher local minimum wage on top of that. If your paycheck does not reflect the correct 2026 rate, you may be owed back pay, penalties, and interest, and the employment attorneys at Protection Law Group help California workers recover exactly that. You can learn more about the firm’s wage and hour work on our California employment law page.

Key Point

• California’s 2026 statewide minimum wage is $16.90/hour, a single rate that does not depend on employer size.
• Many California cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and others) require a higher local minimum wage, and the higher rate always wins.
• Fast food workers and many health care workers have their own, higher minimum wages under separate California laws.

If your employer is paying you less than California’s 2026 minimum wage, book your free consultation today. No upfront fees, and you pay only if we win.

What is the California minimum wage in 2026?

The California minimum wage in 2026 is $16.90 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. This is the floor for most hourly employees in the state, and your employer cannot pay you less, even if you agree to it in writing. The rate is already scheduled to rise again to $17.40 per hour on January 1, 2027.

Does employer size change the minimum wage?

No. California once had two rates, one for larger employers and one for small employers with 25 or fewer workers, but that split ended on January 1, 2023. Since then there has been a single statewide minimum wage that applies to employers of every size.

When does the state rate change, and who sets it?

California’s minimum wage is adjusted each year on January 1 based on inflation. The California Department of Finance calculates the increase using the Consumer Price Index and announces the new rate the prior summer, which is why it generally goes up a little each year.

The state figure is only the starting point, though. If you work in a city with its own ordinance, your real minimum wage may be higher, so read the next section closely.

What about salaried, exempt employees?

The minimum wage also sets the salary floor for full-time exempt employees. In 2026, a properly classified exempt employee generally must earn at least $70,304 per year (twice the statewide minimum wage for full-time work). If you are paid a salary below that and treated as exempt, you may be misclassified and owed overtime.

Which California cities have a higher minimum wage in 2026?

Many California cities and counties set a local minimum wage that is higher than the state rate, and when the local rate is higher, that is the rate your employer must pay. Most local rates adjust on July 1 each year. The figures below are the rates in effect now (set July 1, 2026).

Hotel, airport, and certain other workers have even higher rates in several of these cities. For example, the City of Los Angeles and Santa Monica set a $25.00 per hour rate for covered hotel and airport workers, and West Hollywood sets a higher rate for hotel employees.

Not every city has an ordinance. El Segundo, for instance, has no local minimum wage, so workers there follow the $16.90 state rate. If you work in the South Bay or greater Los Angeles, check whether your city sets its own wage. The rule is simple: you are entitled to whichever minimum wage is higher, state or local. Our team handles unpaid wage and overtime claims for workers across Los Angeles County.

Think your employer is paying under the correct city rate? Schedule your free consultation with Protection Law Group and we will help you figure out what you are actually owed.

Are there different minimum wages for fast food and healthcare workers?

Yes. California has two separate laws that set higher minimum wages for specific industries, on top of the general state and local rates.

Fast food workers (AB 1228)

Under Assembly Bill 1228, workers at covered national fast food chains (generally limited-service restaurants that are part of a chain with 60 or more locations nationwide) have a minimum wage of $20.00 per hour, which took effect April 1, 2024, and has not changed for 2026. California’s Fast Food Council has authority to raise that rate, but it has not approved an increase. Some positions and smaller independent restaurants are not covered.

Health care workers (SB 525)

Under Senate Bill 525, many health care facility employees are covered by a separate, higher minimum wage. The exact rate depends on the type and size of the facility, and as of July 1, 2026 these rates range from about $19.28 to $25.00 per hour, stepping up over time until every covered tier reaches $25.00. Because which tier applies turns on your specific employer, it is worth confirming your correct rate rather than assuming.

If you are a fast food or health care worker and your pay does not match the rate for your industry, you do not have to sort out which law applies on your own. That is what we do.

What if my employer pays less than the 2026 minimum wage?

If your employer pays you below the minimum wage that applies to you, you are generally entitled to recover the unpaid difference, and often significantly more. California law can allow recovery of back wages, liquidated damages (an amount equal to the unpaid minimum wages), interest, and in some cases additional penalties.

Minimum wage violations often hide inside other practices, such as:

• Being required to work “off the clock,” before clocking in or after clocking out
• Unpaid time spent on security checks, setup, cleanup, or mandatory meetings
• Illegal deductions that pull your effective hourly rate below the minimum
• Being misclassified as an independent contractor or as exempt from overtime
• Not being paid everything owed at the end of the job, which can trigger waiting time penalties on your final paycheck

California also does not allow a “tip credit,” so your employer cannot count your tips toward meeting the minimum wage. You are owed the full minimum wage plus your tips.

How do I file a wage claim in California?

You can file a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (also called the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, or DLSE), or you can pursue your unpaid wages through a lawyer. The basic Labor Commissioner process is:

1. File a wage claim form with the Labor Commissioner’s Office, listing the wages you believe you are owed.
2. Attend a settlement conference, where the office tries to resolve the claim.
3. If it does not settle, attend a hearing (often called a Berman hearing), where a hearing officer decides the claim.

You generally have three years to recover unpaid minimum wages under the California Labor Code, and in some situations a related claim can reach back four years. Because deadlines and the best path (a Labor Commissioner claim, an individual lawsuit, or a class or PAGA action) depend on your facts, it is worth talking to an attorney early. Protection Law Group has recovered multi-million-dollar results in wage and hour class actions, including meal and rest break, minimum wage, and overtime cases. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Why workers across California turn to Protection Law Group

Protection Law Group is a California employment and personal injury firm based in El Segundo, with more than 60 years of combined attorney experience advocating for employees. The firm has secured substantial wage and hour recoveries for California workers, including a $30 million wage and hour class action settlement involving meal and rest break and overtime claims. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. We work on contingency, which means no upfront fees and you pay only if we win. We are proud to be Advocates You Can Trust.

To find out what you may be owed in unpaid minimum wages, call (800) 754-3611 for a free consultation, or contact Protection Law Group online today. There is no cost to find out where you stand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the California minimum wage for 2026?

The statewide minimum wage is $16.90 per hour as of January 1, 2026, and it rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027. Local ordinances in many cities require a higher rate.

Is the minimum wage different in Los Angeles than the rest of California?

Yes. The City of Los Angeles pays $18.42 per hour and unincorporated Los Angeles County pays $18.47 per hour, both higher than the state rate, and both adjust on July 1.

Can my employer pay me less than minimum wage if I earn tips?

No. California does not allow a tip credit, so tips cannot count toward the minimum wage. You are entitled to the full minimum wage plus all of your tips.

How long do I have to file a claim for unpaid minimum wages in California?

Generally three years under the California Labor Code, though a related unfair competition claim can reach back four years in some cases. Deadlines depend on your situation, so act quickly.

How much does a wage and hour lawyer cost?

Protection Law Group handles these cases on contingency. There are no upfront fees, and you pay only if the firm recovers money for you. The initial consultation is free.

Sources

1. California Department of Industrial Relations, Minimum Wage, https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/minimum_wage.htm
2. California Department of Industrial Relations, Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_minimumwage.htm
3. California Department of Industrial Relations, Fast Food Minimum Wage (AB 1228), https://www.dir.ca.gov/AB1228/AB1228.html
4. California Department of Industrial Relations, Health Care Worker Minimum Wage, https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/healthcare-minimum-wage/health-care-worker-minimum-wage.html
5. California Labor Commissioner’s Office, How to File a Wage Claim, https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/HowToFileWageClaim.htm

Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.