What is the California minimum wage in 2026?
The California state minimum wage is $16.90 an hour for all employers as of January 1, 2026, up from $16.50. Many cities and counties set a higher local rate, and where they do, the higher rate applies. Fast-food and some health-care employers are subject to separate, higher minimums.
The statewide figure adjusts annually for cost of living under Labor Code § 1182.12, so it should be re-checked each January rather than assumed.
The state rate also drives the exempt salary threshold, which is twice the minimum wage for full-time work — $70,304 a year in 2026.
Where a local ordinance is higher, the employer pays the local rate. A business with worksites in more than one city may owe different minimums at each.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-08-07. Informational only — not legal advice. California rules change; confirm against the current source before acting.
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