California minimum wage 2026
OfficialThe California rate, the next increase and a full-time paycheck after tax.
- Minimum wage
- $16.90
- an hour
- Next rate
- $17.40
- January 1, 2027
- Full time, after tax
- $29,613
- a year
- Rank
- #4 of 51
- by minimum wage, 1 is the highest
What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?
The California minimum wage is $16.90 an hour in 2026, above the $7.25 federal minimum.
Will the California minimum wage go up in 2027?
Yes. It rises to $17.40 an hour on January 1, 2027 (announced), $0.50 more than today.
$16.90 an hour
- Today, November 1, 2026
Projected
$17.40 an hour
How much is minimum wage a year in California?
Full time, a California minimum wage job pays $35,152 a year before tax.
- A year
- $35,152
- A month
- $2,929.33
- Every two weeks
- $1,352.00
- A week
- $676.00
How this is calculated
- The hourly rate times 40 hours a week times 52 weeks.
How much is a minimum wage paycheck after taxes in California?
After taxes, full-time minimum wage work in California takes home $29,613 a year. Each paycheck every two weeks comes to $1,136.12. It takes 70.2 hours of work to take home $1,000.
- Take-home per year
- $29,613
- Every two weeks
- $1,136.12
- Per hour after tax
- $14.24
- In national prices
- $26,746
How this is calculated
- Full-time pay of $35,152 through federal, Social Security, Medicare and California taxes for 2026.
- The reference worker is a single filer with one job, paid every two weeks, with a standard Form W-4 and no pre-tax deductions, under 65.
Is $25 an hour good pay in California?
It is below the middle: $25 an hour is more than 41% of California workers earn, but less than half of them. The California median wage is $28.00 an hour.
Wage statistics cover employees in all jobs, full and part time, not the self-employed.
What is the tipped minimum wage in California?
California does not allow a tip credit, so tipped workers get the full $16.90 an hour before tips.
Which California cities have a higher minimum wage?
Some California cities and counties set their own higher minimum wage. Los Angeles pays $18.42 an hour. Other local rates on this page: San Diego ($17.75) and Oakland ($17.34).
| Place | Kind | Minimum wage | Since | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | city | $18.42 | July 1, 2026 | none scheduled |
| San Diego | city | $17.75 | January 1, 2026 | $18.35 on January 1, 2027 |
| Oakland | city | $17.34 | January 1, 2026 | none scheduled |
Some California cities and counties have local minimum wage rates that are higher than the state rate.
How has the California minimum wage changed?
The California minimum wage rose from $10 an hour in 2016 to $16.90 today. It was $1.65 in 1968.
How does the California minimum wage compare with other states?
California ranks #4 of 51; the highest is Washington, DC at $18.40 an hour. The minimum wage by state page lists all of them.
Questions people ask
How much is minimum wage per week in California?
Full time, a California minimum wage job takes home $569.49 a week after taxes.
Is the California minimum wage worth more in local prices?
No. After taxes and California prices, a full-time minimum wage job is worth $26,746 a year at average US prices, less than its $29,613 take-home.