California’s Department of Finance recently announced the minimum wage increase for 2026. The minimum wage in California will increase from $16.50 per hour to $16.90 perhour on January 1, 2026. This increase applies to all employers, regardless of size. This increase is based on the state’s annual cost-of-living adjustment tied to the U.S. Consumer Price Index
local minimum wage
California Votes No On Proposition 32 But Minimum Wage Increases Still Coming
Posted in Wage and Hour
Voters in California rejected Proposition 32, which would have increased the minimum wage to $18 for all employers by 2026. Under the proposition, the minimum wage increases depended on the size of the employer. Specifically, employers with 26 or more would have had to pay $17 hourly for the remainder of 2024 and $18 hourly…
Understanding California’s Minimum Wage
By Harold R. Jones & Emmalee M. McCarthy on
Posted in Wage and Hour
Most California employers must adhere to both federal and state minimum wage laws. Recent developments at the state and local level have ushered in new changes to California minimum wage laws. At the state level, California raised the minimum wage to $16.00, subject to certain industry- and locality-specific requirements. This new minimum wage—which applies to…
New Year, New Minimum Wages for California
By Harold R. Jones & Jessica C. Shafer on
Posted in Wage and Hour
2023 was supposed to be the year that all California employers would be subject to the same minimum wage of $15.00 per hour. However, inflation has triggered a further increase. Effective January 1, 2023, the state minimum wage for all California employers will be $15.50.
Some cities and counties raised the minimum wage rate…
A Reminder of Minimum Wage Increases Coming in the New Year
Posted in Wage and Hour
California’s drive toward a 15-dollar minimum wage for all employers continues. Effective January 1, 2022, the minimum wage for employers with 25 employees or less will increase to $14.00 per hour, and for employers with 26 or more employees, the minimum wage will increase to $15.00 per hour. Employers must remember this increase also affects…