These California cities just raised minimum wages. Where can workers earn more?
From housing to everyday expenses, California has long been among the most expensive states in the country.
As costs continue to rise, the Golden State has increased its minimum wage by 40 cents, bringing it to $16.90 per hour.
The new hourly pay rates officially took effect on Thursday, Jan. 1.
The annual minimum wage adjustment is the lower option between a 3.5% increase or the average U.S. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers from July of the prior year to the end of June.
Joe Stephenshaw, director of the California Department of Finance, announced the new minimum wage in a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders in July 2025.
While $16.90 per hour is now the statewide minimum, several California cities have set their local minimum wages even higher to help workers keep pace with inflation.
Where can California workers earn more than the new state minimum?
According to the UC Berkeley Labor Center, here’s where workers earn more than the new state minimum of $16.90 per hour:
Which workers earn more in California?
Starting Thursday, Jan. 1, California’s statewide minimum wage increased from $16.50 to $16.90 per hour.
However, some workers already earn more, according to the California Department of Industrial Relations.
In 2024, fast food workers in California — employees of “national fast food chains” offering “limited-service” options — began earning a minimum of $20 per hour.
Some California health care workers can earn a higher minimum wage that ranges up to $25 an hour, depending on where they work and the type of facility that employs them.
Additionally, several California cities — including San Diego, West Hollywood and Hayward — will set local minimum wages above the statewide hourly rate of $16.90 in 2026.
Where is hourly pay increasing in California?
More than 20 cities in California just raised their minimum wages starting Thursday, Jan. 1.
Among the cities that increased their minimum wage, Belmont’s rose to $18.95 per hour.
Workers will begin making at least $18.82 per hour in El Cerrito, which is about a 50-cent increase from the previous minimum wage.
On Thursday, Jan. 1, Sunnyvale raised its hourly minimum wage to $19.50.
While the city of San Francisco will keep its minimum wage at $19.18 per hour, the city of South San Francisco will raise its from $17.70 to $18.15.
West Hollywood will have the highest wage increase, going from $19.65 to $20.25 per hour.
Which California cities and counties pay more than $16.90 an hour?
According to the UC Berkeley Labor Center, these counties and cities have minimum wages that exceed $17 per hour as of Thursday, Jan. 1:
- Alameda — $17.46
- Belmont — $18.95
- Berkeley — $19.18
- Burlingame — $17.86
- Cupertino — $18.70
- Daly City — $17.50
- East Palo Alto — $17.90
- El Cerrito — $18.82
- Emeryville — $19.90
- Foster City — $17.85
- Fremont — $17.75
- Half Moon Bay — $17.91
- Hayward — $17.79
- Los Altos — $18.70
- Los Angeles — $17.87
- Los Angeles County (Unincorporated areas) — $17.81
- Malibu — $17.27
- Menlo Park — $17.55
- Milpitas — $18.20
- Mountain View — $19.70
- Novato — $17.46
- Oakland — $17.34
- Palo Alto — $18.70
- Pasadena — $18.04
- Petaluma — $18.31
- Redwood City — $18.65
- Richmond — $19.18
- San Carlos — $17.75
- San Diego — $17.75
- San Francisco — $19.18
- San Jose — $18.45
- San Mateo — $18.60
- San Mateo County (unincorporated areas) — $17.95
- Santa Clara — $18.70
- Santa Monica — $17.81
- Santa Rosa — $18.21
- Sonoma — $18.47
- South San Francisco — $18.15
- Sunnyvale — $19.50
- West Hollywood — $20.25
This story was originally published January 5, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "These California cities just raised minimum wages. Where can workers earn more?."
