As of January 1, 2026, the statewide minimum wage in California is 16.90 dollars per hour for most non-exempt employees, regardless of employer size.

Key details

  • Statewide hourly minimum: 16.90 dollars per hour.
  • Applies to: Most hourly (non-exempt) workers across California.
  • No lower rate for small employers: Same rate for all employer sizes.
  • Tipped employees: California does not allow a tip credit, so tipped workers must receive at least the full state minimum in direct pay, before tips.

Important exceptions

Some industries have higher or special minimums:

  • Fast food workers: 20 dollars per hour (statewide sectoral wage).
  • Health care workers: Minimums generally between 18.63 and 24 dollars per hour in 2026, depending on facility type and location.
  • Local city and county laws: Many cities (for example, parts of Los Angeles County, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pasadena) set higher local minimum wages than the state floor, sometimes above 18–20 dollars per hour.

Because local ordinances can exceed the state rate, workers are entitled to the highest applicable minimum wage (local vs. state).

Quick example

If you work at a small retail shop in a California city that has no local minimum wage law , your minimum hourly pay in 2026 must be at least 16.90 dollars per hour. If you work at a fast food chain covered by the state fast‑food law, your minimum would instead be 20 dollars per hour.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.