The minimum wage in California will increase to $16 per hour on Jan. 1, 2024, according to the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).
For fast food employees, the minimum wage will increase to $20 per hour starting on April 1, 2024. The rise will be effective after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation AB 1228, which also includes changes to working conditions such as health, safety and training.
The DIR said the minimum wage is a requirement for all employers in California.
"The minimum wage is an obligation of the employer and cannot be waived by any agreement, including collective bargaining agreements," according to the DIR.
Cities in California with a higher minimum wage
The wage increase applies to the entire state of California, however, some cities and counties have enacted ordinances that allow an added increase to the minimum wage.
For such cities, “the employer must follow the stricter standard; that is, the one that is the most beneficial to the employee,” and therefore must pay a higher minimum wage, according to the DIR.
U.S. & World
The DIR refers to UC Berkeley's Labor Center for the list of cities and counties in the Golden State with the highest minimum wages.
Alameda: Minimum wage is $16.52 as of 7/1/2023.
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Belmont: Minimum wage will be $17.35 effective 1/1/2024
Berkeley: Minimum wage is $18.07 as of 7/1/2023
Burlingame: Minimum wage will be $17.03 effective 1/1/2024
Cupertino: the minimum wage will be $17.75 effective 1/1/2024
Daly City: Minimum wage will be $16.62 effective 1/1/2024
East Palo Alto: Minimum wage will be $17.00 effective 1/1/2024
El Cerrito: Minimum wage will be $17.92 effective 1/1/2024
Emeryville: Minimum wage is $18.67 as of 7/1/2023
Foster City: Minimum wage will be $17.00 effective 1/1/2024
Fremont: Minimum wage is $16.80 as of 7/1/2023
Half Moon Bay: Minimum wage will be $17.01 effective 1/1/2024
Hayward: Minimum wage is $16.34 as of 1/1/2023. (Hayward's rate for small employers is the same as the state of California's)
Los Altos: Minimum wage will be $17.75 effective 1/1/2024
Los Angeles: Minimum wage is $16.78 as of 7/1/2023
Los Angeles County (unincorporated): Minimum wage is $16.90 as of 7/1/2023
Malibu: Minimum wage is $16.90 as of 7/1/2023
Menlo Park: Minimum wage will be $16.70 effective 1/1/2024
Milpitas: Minimum wage is $17.20 as of 7/1/2023
Mountain View: Minimum wage will be $18.75 effective 1/1/2024
Novato: Minimum wage is $16.04 as of 1/1/2023. (Very large business rate (100+ employees): $16.86)
Oakland: Minimum wage will be $16.50 effective 1/1/2024. Hotel Minimum Wage Rate goes up to $17.94 per hour (with Health Benefits), and $23.91 per hour (without Health Benefits) effective 1/1/2024.
Palo Alto: Minimum wage will be $17.80 effective 1/1/2024
Pasadena: Minimum wage is $16.93 as of 7/1/2023
Petaluma: Minimum wage will be $17.45 effective 1/1/2024
Redwood City: Minimum wage will be $17.70 effective 1/1/2024
Richmond: Minimum wage will be $17.20 effective 1/1/2024
San Carlos: the minimum wage will be $16.87 effective 1/1/2024
San Diego: Minimum wage will be $16.85 effective 1/1/2024
San Francisco: Minimum wage is $18.07 as of 7/1/2023
San Jose: Minimum wage will be $17.55 effective 1/1/2024
San Mateo: Minimum wage will be $17.35 effective 1/1/2024
San Mateo County (unincorporated): Minimum wage will be $17.06 effective 1/1/2024
Santa Clara: Minimum wage will be $17.75 effective 1/1/2024
Santa Monica: Minimum wage is $16.90 as of 7/1/2023. The wage for hotels and businesses operating on hotel property is $19.73 per hour effective on 7/1/2023
Santa Rosa: the minimum wage will be $17.45 effective 1/1/2024
Sonoma: The minimum wage is $17.00 as of 1/1/2023.
South San Francisco: Minimum wage will be $17.25 effective 1/1/2024
Sunnyvale: Minimum wage will be $18.55 effective 1/1/2024
West Hollywood: Minimum wage is $19.08 as of 7/1/2023.
