Sonoma Minimum Wage
$18.47 an hour for the largest employers · $1.57 above the state minimum · adjusts every January 1
The minimum wage in Sonoma is $18.47 for 26 or more employees; $17.38 for 25 or fewer employees, 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.
Heads up: California's minimum wage rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027, above Sonoma's current $17.38 tier. Unless the local rate goes up at least that much, employers will owe the state rate from that day.
What Sonoma's minimum wage pays
Gross pay before taxes
Want take-home pay? Use the California paycheck calculator with this hourly rate.
Sonoma minimum wage by year
| Effective | Rate | Change | State minimum then |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $18.47 · 26 or more employees $17.38 · 25 or fewer employees |
— | $16.90 |
The rate adjusts every January 1 by the Consumer Price Index. At $18.47, a full-time job (2,080 hours) pays $38,418 a year before taxes, $3,266 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.
- Employer size counts everyone on the payroll, including temps and people who work outside the city.
- Learners aged 14 to 17 may be paid 85% for their first 160 hours.
- Government agencies are 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 Sonoma County
| City or area | Rate |
|---|---|
| Petaluma | $18.31 |
| Santa Rosa | $18.21 |
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 Sonoma in 2026?
It is $18.47 for 26 or more employees; $17.38 for 25 or fewer employees, in effect since January 1, 2026. That is $1.57 an hour above California's $16.90 statewide minimum for the largest employers.
When does the Sonoma 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. California's minimum wage rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027, above Sonoma's current $17.38 tier. Unless the local rate goes up at least that much, employers will owe the state rate from that day.
Do small businesses in Sonoma pay less?
Yes. Sonoma sets different rates by employer size: $18.47 for 26 or more employees; $17.38 for 25 or fewer employees. Employer size counts everyone on the payroll, including temps and people who work outside the city.
Do fast food workers in Sonoma 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 Sonoma's $18.47. Other restaurant workers get the local rate.
Who has to be paid the Sonoma 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
- Sonoma official minimum wage page (checked: City of Sonoma wages page, 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.