Unincorporated San Mateo County Minimum Wage
$17.95 an hour · $1.05 above the state minimum · adjusts every January 1
The minimum wage in unincorporated San Mateo County is $17.95 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. Unincorporated San Mateo County's minimum wage rises to $18.58 on January 1, 2027, a 3.5% increase that the county has already published.
What Unincorporated San Mateo County's minimum wage pays
Gross pay before taxes
Want take-home pay? Use the California paycheck calculator with this hourly rate.
Unincorporated San Mateo County minimum wage by year
| Effective | Rate | Change | State minimum then |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2027 (announced) | $18.58 | +$0.63 (3.5%) | $17.40 |
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $17.95 | +$0.49 (2.8%) | $16.90 |
| January 1, 2025 | $17.46 | — | $0.00 |
The rate adjusts every January 1 by the Consumer Price Index. At $17.95, a full-time job (2,080 hours) pays $37,336 a year before taxes, $2,184 more than the state minimum.
Who is covered
Employees who work at least 2 hours a week in unincorporated San Mateo County (such as North Fair Oaks, El Granada or Pescadero), regardless of employer size or where the employer is based.
- Tips cannot be credited toward the county minimum wage.
- An employer's parent, spouse or child is exempt.
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 |
| Redwood City | $18.65 |
| San Carlos | $17.75 |
| San Mateo | $18.60 |
| 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 unincorporated San Mateo County in 2026?
It is $17.95 an hour for every employer, in effect since January 1, 2026. That is $1.05 an hour above California's $16.90 statewide minimum.
When does the unincorporated San Mateo County minimum wage go up next?
Unincorporated San Mateo County's minimum wage rises to $18.58 on January 1, 2027, a 3.5% increase that the county has already published.
Does the unincorporated San Mateo 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 San Mateo 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 San Mateo County's $17.95. Other restaurant workers get the local rate.
Who has to be paid the unincorporated San Mateo County minimum wage?
Employees who work at least 2 hours a week in unincorporated San Mateo County (such as North Fair Oaks, El Granada or Pescadero), regardless of employer size or where the employer is based.
Sources
- Unincorporated San Mateo County official minimum wage page (checked: San Mateo County minimum wage page and 2027 Employer Bulletin (published Oct 1, 2026))
- 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.