El Cerrito Minimum Wage
$18.82 an hour · $1.92 above the state minimum · adjusts every January 1
The minimum wage in El Cerrito is $18.82 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. The rate next adjusts on January 1, 2027, by the Consumer Price Index. The new figure has not been published yet.
What El Cerrito's minimum wage pays
Gross pay before taxes
Want take-home pay? Use the California paycheck calculator with this hourly rate.
El Cerrito minimum wage by year
| Effective | Rate | Change | State minimum then |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $18.82 | +$0.48 (2.6%) | $16.90 |
| January 1, 2025 | $18.34 | — | $0.00 |
The rate adjusts every January 1 by the Consumer Price Index. At $18.82, a full-time job (2,080 hours) pays $39,146 a year before taxes, $3,994 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.
- The rate applies regardless of employer size or where the business is based.
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 Contra Costa County
| City or area | Rate |
|---|---|
| Richmond | $19.18 |
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 El Cerrito in 2026?
It is $18.82 an hour for every employer, in effect since January 1, 2026. That is $1.92 an hour above California's $16.90 statewide minimum.
When does the El Cerrito minimum wage go up next?
The rate next adjusts on January 1, 2027, by the Consumer Price Index. The new figure has not been published yet.
Does the El Cerrito minimum wage apply to small businesses?
Yes. The rate is the same for every employer, whatever its size.
Do fast food workers in El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito's $18.82. Other restaurant workers get the local rate.
Who has to be paid the El Cerrito 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
- El Cerrito official minimum wage page (checked: City of El Cerrito minimum wage 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.