California Minimum Wage
California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's State Minimum Wage Laws table, updated November 5, 2026.
Scheduled: $17.40 from January 1, 2027.
Source: California Department of Industrial Relations, news release 2026-66, read November 10, 2026.
- Rate in effect
- $16.90
- Federal minimum
- $7.25
- Full-time year
- $35,152
- State rank
- 4th of 51
Local ordinances and sector rates can be higher where state law allows them, and are not shown here. To confirm a local or sector rate, use the state agency listed on the Department of Labor's State Labor Offices page.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05. Checked against NCSL state minimum wage table (as of 2026-07-01); EPI 2026 table where listed. A full-time year is 2,080 hours, the convention BLS uses. Confirm the rate in the Department of Labor table. Table read November 10, 2026; rechecked on the January 1 and July 1 statutory change dates, next on January 1, 2027. Scheduled rates are shown where the Department of Labor or the state's own agency publishes one we could read; a state showing none may still have one, so check its labor office.
How does California's minimum wage compare with the federal rate?
The rate in California is $9.65 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
What is the tipped minimum wage in California?
The minimum cash wage for tipped workers in California is $16.90, and the Department of Labor lists no tip credit.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, updated November 5, 2026.
How does the minimum compare with pay in California?
The lowest-paid tenth of jobs in California paid $17.28 an hour or less in May 2025, so the current minimum equals 98% of that line and 60% of the state's median hourly pay of $28.00.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, all occupations, hourly; minimum wage as listed on November 5, 2026. The wage figures are from May 2025, so a rate raised since then can sit above them. Confirm the wage figures in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.
Which occupations in California pay closest to the minimum?
Dishwashers have the 10th-percentile wage closest to $16.90, at $16.90 an hour, among occupations with at least 100 jobs.
| Occupation | 10th percentile | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwashers | $16.90 | $18.21 | 74,160 |
| Residential Advisors | $16.90 | $22.43 | 8,120 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $16.88 | $18.75 | 32,430 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $16.92 | $18.92 | 112,750 |
| Gambling Service Workers, All Other | $16.87 | $18.95 | 1,650 |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | $16.87 | $19.00 | 560 |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders | $16.86 | $20.24 | 310 |
| Retail Salespersons | $16.94 | $18.48 | 376,460 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $16.94 | $21.50 | 29,940 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $16.85 | $18.95 | 6,170 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, hourly wages. Confirm in the OEWS tables at bls.gov.