Redwood City Minimum Wage
$18.65 an hour · $1.75 above the state minimum · adjusts every January 1
The minimum wage in Redwood City is $18.65 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. Redwood City's minimum wage rises to $19.30 on January 1, 2027, a 3.5% increase that the city has already published.
What Redwood City's minimum wage pays
Gross pay before taxes
Want take-home pay? Use the California paycheck calculator with this hourly rate.
Redwood City minimum wage by year
| Effective | Rate | Change | State minimum then |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2027 (announced) | $19.30 | +$0.65 (3.5%) | $17.40 |
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $18.65 | +$0.45 (2.5%) | $16.90 |
| January 1, 2025 | $18.20 | — | $0.00 |
The rate adjusts every January 1 by the Consumer Price Index. At $18.65, a full-time job (2,080 hours) pays $38,792 a year before taxes, $3,640 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 San Mateo County
| City or area | Rate |
|---|---|
| Belmont | $18.95 |
| Burlingame | $17.86 |
| Daly City | $17.50 |
| East Palo Alto | $17.90 |
| Foster City | $17.85 |
| Half Moon Bay | $17.91 |
| Menlo Park | $17.55 |
| San Carlos | $17.75 |
| San Mateo | $18.60 |
| Unincorporated San Mateo County | $17.95 |
| South San Francisco | $18.15 |
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 Redwood City in 2026?
It is $18.65 an hour for every employer, in effect since January 1, 2026. That is $1.75 an hour above California's $16.90 statewide minimum.
When does the Redwood City minimum wage go up next?
Redwood City's minimum wage rises to $19.30 on January 1, 2027, a 3.5% increase that the city has already published.
Does the Redwood City minimum wage apply to small businesses?
Yes. The rate is the same for every employer, whatever its size.
Do fast food workers in Redwood City 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 Redwood City's $18.65. Other restaurant workers get the local rate.
Who has to be paid the Redwood City 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
- Redwood City official minimum wage page (checked: City of Redwood City minimum wage page, opened in a browser 2026-10-11)
- 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.