Unincorporated Los Angeles County Minimum Wage
$18.47 an hour · $1.57 above the state minimum · adjusts every July 1
The minimum wage in unincorporated Los Angeles County is $18.47 an hour, in effect since July 1, 2026. The rate next adjusts on July 1, 2027, by the Los Angeles-area Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The new figure has not been published yet.
What Unincorporated Los Angeles County's minimum wage pays
Gross pay before taxes
Want take-home pay? Use the California paycheck calculator with this hourly rate.
Unincorporated Los Angeles County minimum wage by year
| Effective | Rate | Change | State minimum then |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 (current) | $18.47 | +$0.66 (3.7%) | $16.90 |
| July 1, 2025 | $17.81 | — | $0.00 |
The rate adjusts every July 1 by the Los Angeles-area Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). At $18.47, a full-time job (2,080 hours) pays $38,418 a year before taxes, $3,266 more than the state minimum.
Who is covered
Employees for the hours they work in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, meaning places outside any city limits.
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 Los Angeles County
| City or area | Rate |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $18.42 |
| Malibu | $17.91 |
| Pasadena | $18.57 |
| Santa Monica | $18.47 |
| West Hollywood | $20.25 |
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 unincorporated Los Angeles County in 2026?
It is $18.47 an hour for every employer, in effect since July 1, 2026. That is $1.57 an hour above California's $16.90 statewide minimum.
When does the unincorporated Los Angeles County minimum wage go up next?
The rate next adjusts on July 1, 2027, by the Los Angeles-area Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The new figure has not been published yet.
Does the unincorporated Los Angeles County minimum wage apply to small businesses?
Yes. The rate is the same for every employer, whatever its size.
Do fast food workers in unincorporated Los Angeles County 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 unincorporated Los Angeles County's $18.47. Other restaurant workers get the local rate.
Who has to be paid the unincorporated Los Angeles County minimum wage?
Employees for the hours they work in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, meaning places outside any city limits.
Sources
- Unincorporated Los Angeles County official minimum wage page (checked: LA County DCBA minimum wage page (FY 2026-27 notice), 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 county's ordinance and official notice control. When local, state and federal rates differ, the employer must pay the highest one that applies.