San Diego Minimum Wage
$17.75 an hour · $0.85 above the state minimum · adjusts every January 1
The minimum wage in San Diego is $17.75 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. San Diego's minimum wage rises to $18.35 on January 1, 2027, a 3.4% increase that the city has already published.
What San Diego's minimum wage pays
Gross pay before taxes
Want take-home pay? Use the California paycheck calculator with this hourly rate.
San Diego minimum wage by year
| Effective | Rate | Change | State minimum then |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2027 (announced) | $18.35 | +$0.60 (3.4%) | $17.40 |
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $17.75 | +$0.50 (2.9%) | $16.90 |
| January 1, 2025 | $17.25 | — | $0.00 |
The rate adjusts every January 1 by the Consumer Price Index. At $17.75, a full-time job (2,080 hours) pays $36,920 a year before taxes, $1,768 more than the state minimum.
Who is covered
Employees for the hours they work inside the city limits, full- or part-time. Check the ordinance for any minimum-hours threshold.
- San Diego also requires earned sick leave for employees who work in the city.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in San Diego in 2026?
It is $17.75 an hour for every employer, in effect since January 1, 2026. That is $0.85 an hour above California's $16.90 statewide minimum.
When does the San Diego minimum wage go up next?
San Diego's minimum wage rises to $18.35 on January 1, 2027, a 3.4% increase that the city has already published.
Does the San Diego minimum wage apply to small businesses?
Yes. The rate is the same for every employer, whatever its size.
Do fast food workers in San Diego 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 San Diego's $17.75. Other restaurant workers get the local rate.
Who has to be paid the San Diego minimum wage?
Employees for the hours they work inside the city limits, full- or part-time. Check the ordinance for any minimum-hours threshold.
Sources
- San Diego official minimum wage page (checked: City of San Diego Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage page, fetched 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.