It’s that time of year again – when California’s cities and counties ratchet up the minimum wage! Effective July 1, 2026, several jurisdictions increased their local minimum wage rates by approximately 1.6% to as much as 3.7%. Each of the new local rates exceeds California’s current statewide minimum wage of $16.90 per hour.
New Local Minimum Wage Rates
The following Southern California jurisdictions implemented increases:
City of Los Angeles: $18.42 per hour
Unincorporated Los Angeles County: $18.47 per hour
Pasadena: $18.57 per hour
Santa Monica: $18.47 per hour
Malibu: $17.91 per hour
Several Bay Area jurisdictions also increased their minimum wage rates:
Emeryville: $20.34 per hour
Berkeley: $19.61 per hour
San Francisco: $19.61 per hour
Milpitas: $18.50 per hour
Fremont: $18.05 per hour
Alameda: $17.76 per hour
Although each of these increases reflects an annual inflation adjustment required by the applicable local ordinance, there is no single statewide formula governing… Read the complete article here...
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