California Minimum Wage Lookup by City & Industry
The state minimum is $16.90/hour, but 38 cities and 2 counties, fast food and healthcare each set higher rates.
California's statewide minimum wage is $16.90/hour. The wage that applies to you is the highest of the state minimum, your city's ordinance (if it has one), and any industry wage (fast food: $20.00/hr at qualifying chains; healthcare: varies by facility tier).
Select your city and industry to see your applicable minimum wage.
Minimum Wage Lookup
Your Applicable Minimum Wage
How this is calculated
The tool starts from the statewide minimum of $16.90/hour, then checks the city you select against our table of verified local ordinances. The table doesn't cover every California city and county ordinance. If your city isn't listed, the tool applies the state minimum or your industry rate, so check with your city as well.
If you select Fast Food, the tool uses the statewide $20.00/hour rate (AB 1228, for chains with more than 60 locations nationwide) when it's higher than the city rate. If you select Healthcare, the tool points you to the separate four-tier SB 525 schedule. Use our Healthcare Worker Minimum Wage Checker to find your facility's tier, because a covered facility follows that schedule in place of the state and city rates.
The highest minimum that covers your job is the one your employer must pay. A city can set its minimum above the state's but not below it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the California minimum wage in 2026?
The statewide floor is $16.90/hour for all employers, regardless of size, as of January 1, 2026. 38 cities and 2 counties set a higher local minimum wage, and fast food and healthcare workers have their own separate, higher wage floors.
Which city has the highest minimum wage in California?
Emeryville has one of the state's highest citywide minimum wages at $20.34/hour (effective July 1, 2026), with West Hollywood close behind at $20.25/hour.
Does the fast food minimum wage apply to every restaurant?
No. It applies only to limited-service restaurants in national chains with more than 60 locations, and restaurants in settings such as airports, hotels, stadiums and theme parks are exempt, as are some on-site bakeries. Independent restaurants and small chains follow the regular state or local minimum wage instead.
If my city and the state disagree, which minimum wage applies?
Whichever is higher for the employee always applies. A city ordinance can only set a minimum wage above the state floor, never below it.
Why do some city minimum wages change in January and others in July?
Each city sets its own ordinance and adjustment schedule. Most local ordinances (29 of 40) adjust on January 1, the same day as the statewide rate; the other 11, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Berkeley, adjust on July 1. Check the specific city's effective date.
This tool provides an educational estimate only and covers all 40 California local minimum wage ordinances. Confirm your exact city and industry rate with the DIR or your city's labor standards office before running payroll.