Pasadena Minimum Wage
$18.57 an hour · $1.67 above the state minimum · adjusts every July 1
The minimum wage in Pasadena is $18.57 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 Pasadena's minimum wage pays
Gross pay before taxes
Want take-home pay? Use the California paycheck calculator with this hourly rate.
Pasadena minimum wage by year
| Effective | Rate | Change | State minimum then |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 (current) | $18.57 | — | $16.90 |
The rate adjusts every July 1 by the Consumer Price Index. At $18.57, a full-time job (2,080 hours) pays $38,626 a year before taxes, $3,474 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.
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 |
| Unincorporated Los Angeles County | $18.47 |
| Malibu | $17.91 |
| 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 Pasadena in 2026?
It is $18.57 an hour for every employer, in effect since July 1, 2026. That is $1.67 an hour above California's $16.90 statewide minimum.
When does the Pasadena 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 Pasadena minimum wage apply to small businesses?
Yes. The rate is the same for every employer, whatever its size.
Do fast food workers in Pasadena 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 Pasadena's $18.57. Other restaurant workers get the local rate.
Who has to be paid the Pasadena 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
- Pasadena official minimum wage page (checked: City of Pasadena official notice effective July 1, 2026, 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.