California minimum wage 2026: $16.90 an hour, and what it means for your pay.
The current California minimum wage from the U.S. Department of Labor and the state, tipped wages, scheduled changes, the rate's history since 2014 and what entry-level jobs in California pay.
California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's state table (updated July 1, 2026). That is $9.65 above the federal $7.25. At 40 hours a week, $16.90 works out to $676.00 a week and $35,152 a year before taxes (arithmetic, 52 weeks).
The California minimum wage now
Weekly and yearly columns are arithmetic at 40 hours a week and 52 weeks, before taxes.
| Who | Per hour | Per 40-hour week | Per year (2,080 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All covered workers | $16.90 | $676.00 | $35,152 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor state table, updated July 1, 2026.
What DOL's California entry says
- Overtime (premium pay after): Daily - 8 (time and half), and 12 (double time), Weekly - 40; on 7th day: First 8 hours (time and half) Over 8 hours on 7th day (double time).
- Any work in excess of eight hours in one workday, in excess of 40 hours in one workweek, or in the first eight hours worked on the seventh day of work in any one workweek shall be at the rate of one and one-half times the regular rate of pay. Any work in excess of 12 hours in one day or in excess of eight hours on any seventh day of a workweek shall be paid no less than twice the regular rate of pay. California Labor Code section 510. Exceptions apply to an employee working pursuant to an alternative workweek adopted pursuant to applicable Labor Code sections and for time spent commuting. (See Labor Code section 510 for exceptions).
- The minimum wage will be adjusted annually based upon a set formula.
The federal floor: the Fair Labor Standards Act sets a federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. When a state's rate is higher, covered employers pay the state rate; when it is lower or there is none, employers covered by the federal law pay $7.25. Employers must pay the highest rate that applies, including any city or county rate.
Tipped minimum wage in California
California pays tipped workers the full state minimum wage before tips (no tip credit), according to DOL's tipped-employee table (July 1, 2026).
| Who | Combined cash and tip minimum | Maximum tip credit | Minimum cash wage | Tipped employee means (monthly tips) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | — | — | $16.90 | — |
A tip credit lets an employer count part of a worker's tips toward the minimum wage. If cash wage plus tips falls short of the full minimum wage in a week, the employer must make up the difference.
Will the California minimum wage go up in 2027?
Not yet verified. As of Nov 3, 2026 we had not verified a California rate for 2027: neither the U.S. Department of Labor's table nor an official California statement we could read lists one. DOL notes that the rate is adjusted on a set formula; indexed states usually announce the next rate in the fall. Check Labor and Workforce Development Agency (www.dir.ca.gov/contactus.html). We update this page from official sources only.
California minimum wage, 2014 to 2024
Rates in effect on January 1 of each year, from DOL's historical table.
| Year | Rate |
|---|---|
| 2014 | $9.00 |
| 2015 | $9.00 |
| 2016 | $10.00 |
| 2017 | $10.00 |
| 2018 | $11.00 |
| 2019 | $12.00 |
| 2020 | $12.00 |
| 2021 | $13.00 |
| 2022 | $14.00 |
| 2023 | $15.50 |
| 2024 | $16.00 |
What entry-level jobs in California actually pay
BLS estimates for May 2025: the 10th percentile is the wage below which the lowest-paid 10% of workers in the job earned; the median is the middle wage. These are earnings estimates, not legal minimums, and they include tips for tipped jobs.
| Job | 10th percentile | Median | Jobs (BLS estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and counter workers | $17.08 | $20.33 | 449,840 |
| Cashiers | $16.71 | $17.84 | 336,110 |
| Retail salespersons | $16.94 | $18.48 | 376,460 |
| Stockers and order fillers | $17.26 | $20.61 | 310,870 |
| Janitors and cleaners | $17.12 | $19.75 | 234,240 |
| Restaurant cooks | $17.84 | $21.58 | 152,250 |
| Hand laborers and material movers | $17.34 | $21.50 | 355,500 |
| Waiters and waitresses | $16.50 | $17.35 | 229,970 |
For pay above these levels, compare jobs that need a short credential or an apprenticeship. The pages below show BLS pay for some of them in California.
BLS wages for this job in the state.
Open →Pay by stateMedical assistant pay in CaliforniaBLS wages for this job in the state.
Open →Pay by statePharmacy technician pay in CaliforniaBLS wages for this job in the state.
Open →Pay by statePhlebotomist pay in CaliforniaBLS wages for this job in the state.
Open →Cost of livingCost of living in CaliforniaWhat pay is worth in the state.
Open →Free toolSalary to hourly calculatorConvert any wage at your own hours.
Open →All statesMinimum wage by state 2026Every state's rate on one page.
Open →Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every rate on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Questions people ask
What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?
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What is the tipped minimum wage in California?
Will California's minimum wage increase in 2027?
How this page is built
Rates come from the U.S. Department of Labor's state minimum wage tables, which DOL last updated on July 1, 2026. Where a state labor office has published a change after that date, or a rate for 2027, we use the state's own statement and name it; we read every source on Nov 3, 2026. The weekly and yearly figures are plain arithmetic (hourly rate × 40 hours, and × 2,080 hours for 52 weeks), not earnings data. The job-pay table uses BLS estimates of what workers actually earned in May 2025, which include tips for tipped jobs.
- City and county rates: some cities and counties set higher minimums; this page shows state rates only. Check your city or county.
- Exemptions: state laws exempt some jobs and set different rates for some minors, students, trainees and small employers.
- Legal advice: this page summarizes official tables. For a specific pay question, contact the state labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor at 1-866-487-9243.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026), read Nov 3, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (July 1, 2026).
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law (January 1 rates).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates (public domain).