These 11 California cities just raised minimum wages. What are new hourly rates?
From housing costs to gas prices, the cost of living in California remains among the highest in the nation.
To help workers keep pace with rising costs, several California cities have once again increased their local minimum wages.
The new hourly pay rates took effect Wednesday, July 1.
Here’s what workers need to know:
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What is California’s minimum wage?
California’s minimum wage increased 40 cents from 2025 to $16.90 per hour on Jan. 1.
That’s more than $9 higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
However, some industries and cities have higher wage requirements.
Which California workers earn more than the state minimum wage?
Some workers are already entitled to higher minimum wages under state law, according to the California Department of Industrial Relations.
Since 2024, fast food workers in California — employees of “national fast food chains” offering “limited-service” options — began earning a minimum of $20 per hour.
Some California healthcare workers can earn a higher minimum wage that ranges up to $25 an hour, depending on where they work and the type of facility that employs them.
In addition, several California cities have adopted local minimum wages that exceed the statewide rate.
Those increases took effect Wednesday, July 1.
Which California cities raised their minimum wage?
Beginning July 1, workers in 11 California cities, including Fremont, Malibu, Milpitas, Pasadena, San Francisco and Santa Monica, will earn local minimum wages that are higher than the state’s $16.90 hourly minimum.
Among the cities that increased their minimum wage, Berkeley’s rose to $19.61 per hour.
Workers will begin making at least $17.76 per hour in Alameda.
While the city of Los Angeles rose its minimum wage to $18.42 per hour, the county of Los Angeles’ will increase to $18.47.
Emeryville will have the highest wage increase, going from $19.90 to $20.34 per hour.
Which California cities and counties pay more than $16.90 an hour?
According to the UC Berkeley Labor Center, these counties and cities have minimum wages that exceed $17 per hour as of Wednesday, July 1:
- Alameda — $17.76
- Belmont — $18.95
- Berkeley — $19.61
- Burlingame — $17.86
- Cupertino — $18.70
- Daly City — $17.50
- East Palo Alto — $17.90
- El Cerrito — $18.82
- Emeryville — $20.34
- Foster City — $17.85
- Fremont — $18.05
- Half Moon Bay — $17.91
- Hayward — $17.79
- Los Altos — $18.70
- Los Angeles — $18.42
- Los Angeles County (Unincorporated areas) — $18.47
- Malibu — $17.91
- Menlo Park — $17.55
- Milpitas — $18.50
- Mountain View — $19.70
- Novato — $17.46
- Oakland — $17.34
- Palo Alto — $18.70
- Pasadena — $18.57
- Petaluma — $18.31
- Redwood City — $18.65
- Richmond — $19.18
- San Carlos — $17.75
- San Diego — $17.75
- San Francisco — $19.61
- San Jose — $18.45
- San Mateo — $18.60
- San Mateo County (unincorporated areas) — $17.95
- Santa Clara — $18.70
- Santa Monica — $18.47
- Santa Rosa — $18.21
- Sonoma — $18.47
- South San Francisco — $18.15
- Sunnyvale — $19.50
- West Hollywood — $20.25
