$26 Minimum Wage Arrives In CA Amid Patchwork Wage Increases: What To Know

California workers in several cities will receive pay raises beginning July 1 as annual local minimum wage increases take effect, pushing hourly wages above the state's minimum in many communities.

Most of the increases are tied to inflation or previously adopted local ordinances. While California's statewide minimum wage of $16.90 remains unchanged on July 1, workers in cities with their own minimum wage laws will see higher hourly pay starting Wednesday.

Local minimum wages will increase for workers in Alameda ($17.76), Berkeley ($19.61), Emeryville ($20.34), Fremont ($18.05), Los Angeles ($18.42), the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County ($18.47), Malibu ($17.91), Milpitas ($18.50), Pasadena ($18.57), San Francisco ($19.61), and Santa Monica ($18.47).

Hotel and hospitality workers in Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Glendale will earn at least $25 an hour, while Long Beach hotel workers will receive $26.50 an hour beginning July 1.

Health care workers at large hospitals and other medical facilities also will receive scheduled wage increases under California's phased minimum wage law. Employees at large hospital systems and dialysis clinics will earn at least $25 an hour, while workers at smaller hospitals, clinics and other covered health care providers will see tiered increases based on employer size and type.

The latest round of increases comes roughly two years after California raised the minimum wage for qualifying fast-food workers to $20 an hour at restaurant chains with at least 60 locations nationwide. The landmark law, which took effect April 1, 2024, made California the first state to establish a separate statewide minimum wage for the fast-food industry.

The law remains the subject of debate.

Labor advocates have championed the law as a vital step toward a living wage. The law boosted earnings for hundreds of thousands of fast-food workers in the state.

Meanwhile, a study released in March by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz found the higher wage was associated with higher menu prices, reduced employee hours and increased automation that could replace workers.

"Based on what we've found, I think this legislation is a classic case of 'no good deed goes unpunished,'" Stephen Owen, a researcher at UCSC, said in the report. "There are unintended consequences and knock-on effects, and overall, I think the results have definitely not been as positive as policymakers had been expecting."

Another closely watched wage proposal has hit a roadblock. Los Angeles has delayed its plan to raise the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to $30 an hour.

The measure, dubbed the "Olympic Wage" by supporters, was intended to be in place by the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, the city has postponed full implementation until 2030.

California's growing patchwork of wage laws means the minimum wage increasingly depends on where employees work, and in some cases, the industry in which they are employed.

Also see:

• New CA Laws Taking Effect July: What Residents Need To Know
• 4 New CA Laws Will Affect Your Wallet In July
• 3 New Laws Impacting CA Schools: Gender-Neutral Bathrooms, LGBTQ+ Suicide Hotline, Limited Cellphone Use
• CA Minimum Wage Increases: Cities With The Highest Pay In 2026
• CA's $20 Minimum Wage For Fast-Food Workers May Have 'Consequences': Report
• LA Council Delays Olympics Minimum Wage Hike