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2026 Minimum Wages by State, City, & County Announced

Posted by Virginia Young, HR Compliance Director on December 29, 2025

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January 1 usually means celebrations and new resolutions/intentions for the coming year. For California employers, the new year often brings higher State and local minimum wages, and 2026 is no exception.

As of January 1, 2026, California’s state-wide minimum wage is $16.90/hour—up from $16.50/hour in 2025.

Local Minimum Wages

Many California cities and counties require an hourly local minimum wage that is higher than the State’s for non-exempt employees performing work within their geographical boundaries. This means that local minimum wage requirements apply based on where your employee is physically working—and not necessarily where your office or headquarters is located. Employers should check for local minimum wage increases where their non-exempt employees are actually performing their duties. For example, check local minimum wages for your remote workers, and when you are sending employees to different worksites, client sites, out-of-town conferences, etc.

Local minimum wage increases effective January 1, 2026, include:

Northern California:

  • Belmont: $18.95/hour
  • Burlingame: $17.86/hour
  • Cupertino: $18.70/hour
  • Daly City: $17.50/hour
  • East Palo Alto: $17.90/hour
  • El Cerrito: $18.82/hour
  • Foster City: $17.85/hour
  • Half Moon Bay: $17.91/hour
  • Hayward: $17.79/hour (26 or more employees); $16.90/hour (25 or fewer employees)
  • Los Altos: $18.70/hour
  • Menlo Park: $17.55/hour
  • Mountain View: $19.70/hour
  • Novato: $17.73/hour (100 or more employees); $17.46/hour (26-99 employees); $16.90/hour (25 or fewer employees)
  • Oakland: $17.34/hour
  • Oakland Hotels: $18.85/hour (with benefits); $25.14/hour (without benefits)
  • Palo Alto: $18.70/hour
  • Petaluma: $18.31/hour
  • Redwood City: $18.65/hour
  • Richmond: $19.18/hour
  • San Carlos: $17.75/hour
  • San Jose: $18.45/hour
  • San Mateo (City): $18.60/hour
  • San Mateo County: $17.95/hour
  • Santa Clara: $18.70/hour
  • Santa Rosa: $18.21/hour
  • Sonoma (City): $18.47/hour (26 or more employees); $17.38/hour (25 or fewer employees)
  • South San Francisco: $18.15/hour
  • Sunnyvale: $19.50/hour

Southern California:

  • San Diego (City): $17.75/hour
  • West Hollywood: $20.25/hour

State Minimum Wage Increases Also Impact Exempt Employee Salaries 

Salaried exempt employees who work and live in California may also be celebrating the New Year. The State minimum wage increase automatically bumps up the minimum salary requirement for white collar exempt employees to $70,304/year as of January 1, 2026. This amount is calculated by multiplying the State minimum wage of $16.90 by two and then multiplying that amount by 2080 hours/year. For employers in fast food and health care, the state’s fast food minimum wage and health care worker minimum wage DOES impact their exempt employee salary minimums.

Employers should make sure their 2026 wage rates keep up with State and local minimum wage changes for the new year. Have questions? CEA is here to help.