Berkeley Minimum Wage
$19.61 an hour · $2.71 above the state minimum · adjusts every July 1
The minimum wage in Berkeley is $19.61 an hour, in effect since July 1, 2026. The rate next adjusts on July 1, 2027, by the Consumer Price Index. The new figure has not been published yet.
What Berkeley's minimum wage pays
Gross pay before taxes
Want take-home pay? Use the California paycheck calculator with this hourly rate.
Berkeley minimum wage by year
| Effective | Rate | Change | State minimum then |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 (current) | $19.61 | +$0.43 (2.2%) | $16.90 |
| July 1, 2025 | $19.18 | — | $0.00 |
The rate adjusts every July 1 by the Consumer Price Index. At $19.61, a full-time job (2,080 hours) pays $40,789 a year before taxes, $5,637 more than the state minimum.
Who is covered
Employees who work at least 2 hours a week inside the city limits, full- or part-time, for the hours worked there.
- Tips do not count toward the minimum wage.
- Covers for-profit and nonprofit employers alike.
Some workers are owed more than the local rate under state law: fast food workers at chains with more than 60 locations ($20.00 an hour) and health care facility workers (see the health care minimum wage checker). Salaried workers must earn at least $70,304 a year to be exempt from overtime; that threshold is based on the state minimum wage, not the local one.
Other local minimum wages in Alameda County
| City or area | Rate |
|---|---|
| Alameda | $17.76 |
| Emeryville | $20.34 |
| Fremont | $18.05 |
| Hayward | $17.79 |
| Oakland | $17.34 |
A local rate applies to hours worked inside that city's limits. Anywhere else in the county, the state minimum of $16.90 applies unless another ordinance covers the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Berkeley in 2026?
It is $19.61 an hour for every employer, in effect since July 1, 2026. That is $2.71 an hour above California's $16.90 statewide minimum.
When does the Berkeley minimum wage go up next?
The rate next adjusts on July 1, 2027, by the Consumer Price Index. The new figure has not been published yet.
Does the Berkeley minimum wage apply to small businesses?
Yes. The rate is the same for every employer, whatever its size.
Do fast food workers in Berkeley get a higher wage?
Workers at limited-service restaurants in national chains with more than 60 locations earn California's fast food minimum of $20.00 an hour, which is higher than Berkeley's $19.61. Other restaurant workers get the local rate.
Who has to be paid the Berkeley minimum wage?
Employees who work at least 2 hours a week inside the city limits, full- or part-time, for the hours worked there.
Sources
- Berkeley official minimum wage page (checked: City of Berkeley workforce standards page, fetched 2026-09-30)
- UC Berkeley Labor Center inventory of local minimum wage ordinances
- California Labor Commissioner: minimum wage FAQ
Educational information only, not legal advice. Local ordinances have exemptions and details not listed here; the city's ordinance and official notice control. When local, state and federal rates differ, the employer must pay the highest one that applies.