San Jose Minimum Wage
$18.45 an hour · $1.55 above the state minimum · adjusts every January 1
The minimum wage in San Jose is $18.45 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 San Jose's minimum wage pays
Gross pay before taxes
Want take-home pay? Use the California paycheck calculator with this hourly rate.
San Jose minimum wage by year
| Effective | Rate | Change | State minimum then |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $18.45 | +$0.50 (2.8%) | $16.90 |
| January 1, 2025 | $17.95 | — | $0.00 |
The rate adjusts every January 1 by the Consumer Price Index. At $18.45, a full-time job (2,080 hours) pays $38,376 a year before taxes, $3,224 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.
- Tips do not count toward the minimum wage.
- Voters approved the ordinance in November 2012.
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 Santa Clara County
| City or area | Rate |
|---|---|
| Cupertino | $18.70 |
| Los Altos | $18.70 |
| Milpitas | $18.50 |
| Mountain View | $19.70 |
| Palo Alto | $18.70 |
| Santa Clara | $18.70 |
| Sunnyvale | $19.50 |
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 San Jose in 2026?
It is $18.45 an hour for every employer, in effect since January 1, 2026. That is $1.55 an hour above California's $16.90 statewide minimum.
When does the San Jose 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 San Jose minimum wage apply to small businesses?
Yes. The rate is the same for every employer, whatever its size.
Do fast food workers in San Jose 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 Jose's $18.45. Other restaurant workers get the local rate.
Who has to be paid the San Jose 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 Jose official minimum wage page (checked: City of San Jose 2026 Official Minimum Wage Bulletin)
- 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.