California Minimum Wage Across Cities and Towns 2018 Guide for Employers
California Minimum Wage Across Cities and Towns 2018
The Golden State has more local minimum wage laws than any other state. Only New York’s minimum wage laws are more complicated. In total, 30 cities have local minimum wage laws. That’s in addition to the statewide minimum wage. This makes it difficult and time-consuming for employers to track. For a comprehensive list of minimum wage changes across the country check out this article.
Statewide, minimum wage increases based on the size of the employer. Small employers are those who have 25 or fewer employees, while large employers have more than 25 employees. On Jan. 1, a minimum wage for employees of large employers increases from $10.50 to $11.00. Small employers must pay their employees a minimum wage of $10.50.
| Year | 1-25 employees | 26+ employees |
| 2017 | $10.00 | $10.50 |
| 2018 | $10.50 | $11.00 |
| 2019 | $11.00 | $12.00 |
| 2020 | $12.00 | $13.00 |
| 2021 | $13.00 | $14.00 |
| 2022 | $14.00 | $15.00 |
| 2023 | $15.00 | Based on CPI |
The purpose of this article is to outline all the minimum wage laws in California and to make it easier for employers to stay compliant.
Berkeley Minimum Wage
Berkeley minimum wage updates on October 1, 2018.
It raises from $13.75 to $15.00. Employers who work with youth works & job training must increase the minimum wage paid from $12.00 to $13.25.
Starting on July 1, 2019, Berkeley minimum wage will be tied to the Consumer Price Index.
- Oct 1 2016 $12.53
- Oct 1 2017 $13.75
- Oct 1 2018 $15.00
- Oct 1 2019 Tied to CPI
Campbell City Minimum Wage
Campbell City looked at a higher minimum wage but decided to stick with the state’s minimum wage schedule.
Cupertino Minimum Wage
Cupertino’s minimum wage increases on January 1, 2018. It goes up to $1.50 from $12.00 to $13.50.
- 2017 $12.00
- 2018 $13.50
- 2019 $15.00
- 2020 $15.35 (estimated based on CPI)
El Cerrito Minimum Wage
El Cerrito minimum wage also changes on January 1st. In 2017, it was $12.25 and in 2018, it will be $13.60. There is no change in minimum cash wage. The min wage applies to any employee who works at least 2 hours or more each. All employers are subject to the law, regardless of employer size.
- July 1 2016 $11.60
- July 1 2017 $12.25
- July 1 2018 $13.60
- July 1 2019 $15.00
- July 1 2020 Based on CPI
Emeryville Minimum Wage
Emeryville minimum wage changes July 1st. Large employers are considered businesses with at least 56 or more employees. Small employers have 55 or fewer employees. The minimum wage will go from its current wage of $15.20 for large employers to an amount that will be determined early in 2018 by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Small business minimum wage will go from $14.00 to $15.00.
| Date | Small Employers (1-55 employees) | Large Employers (56+ employees) |
| July 2, 2015 | $12.25 | $14.44 |
| July 1, 2016 | $13.00 | $14.82 CPI |
| July 1, 2017 | $14.00 | $14.82 CPI |
| July 1, 2018 | $15.00 | $15.60 CPI |
| July 1, 2019 | $16.00 | $16.00 (estimated CPI) |
Long Beach Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Long Beach was originally scheduled to rise to $13 by 2019. However, only months after the originally passing the new ordinance, the City Council decided to slow the minimum wage increases to match the state’s new minimum wage law.
Los Altos Minimum Wage
Los Altos minimum wage moves from $12 an hour to $13.50 an hour on Jan. 1, 2018.
- 2017 $12.00
- 2018 $13.50
- 2019 $15.00
Los Angeles City Minimum Wage
Los Angeles minimum wage is determined by the size of the employer. Small businesses are those who have 25 or fewer employees, while large businesses have 26 or more employees. On July 1, 2018 small businesses will have to pay a new minimum wage of $12.00 The current minimum wage is $10.50. Big businesses will have their minimum wage increase from $12.00 to $13.25 an hour.
| Date | Small Employers 1-25 employees | Large Employers 26+ employees |
| July 1, 2016 | Federal Minimum | $10.50 |
| July 1, 2017 | $10.50 | $12.00 |
| July 1, 2018 | $12.00 | $13.25 |
| July 1, 2019 | $13.25 | $14.25 |
| July 1, 2020 | $14.25 | $15.00 |
| July 1, 2021 | $15.00 | Linked to CPI |
Los Angeles County (Unincorporated) Minimum Wage
Employers in Los Angeles County will also see changes in minimum wage. The employee split is between 25 and 26 employees for small and large employers. Large employers will see their minimum wage requirements go from $12.00 to $13.25. Small employer’s minimum wage moves from $10.50 to $12.00 an hour. Both wages increase on July 1, 2018.
| Date | Small Employers 1-25 employees | Large Employers 26+ employees |
| July 1, 2016 | Federal Minimum | $10.50 |
| July 1, 2017 | $10.50 | $12.00 |
| July 1, 2018 | $12.00 | $13.25 |
| July 1, 2019 | $13.25 | $14.25 |
| July 1, 2020 | $14.25 | $15.00 |
| July 1, 2021 | $15.00 | Linked to CPI |
Los Angeles Airport Employees currently have a minimum wage of $12.08 an hour and $5.18 health benefits per hour.
Malibu Minimum Wage
Malibu minimum wage moves from $12.00 to $13.25 for big businesses. It moves from $10.50 to $12.00. The split between small and large employers occurs between 25 and 26 employees. All employees count as a full employee, even if temporary.
| Date | Small Employers 1-25 employees | Large Employers 26+ employees |
| July 1, 2016 | Federal Minimum | $10.50 |
| July 1, 2017 | $10.50 | $12.00 |
| July 1, 2018 | $12.00 | $13.25 |
| July 1, 2019 | $13.25 | $14.25 |
| July 1, 2020 | $14.25 | $15.00 |
| July 1, 2021 | $15.00 | Linked to CPI |
Milpitas Minimum Wage
Milpitas minimum wage moves two times in 2018. In January 1st it moves from $11.00 to $12.00. On July 1st, it moves again to $13.50. All employees who work at least 2 hours a week in city limits must receive minimum wage.
- July 1, 2017 $11.00
- Jan. 1, 2018 $12.00
- July 1, 2018 $13.50
- July 1, 2019 $15.00
- July 1, 2020 Based on CPI
Mountain View Minimum Wage
Mountain View sees its minimum wage goes up to $15.00 an hour on January 1, 2018. It has been $13.00 through 2017. It applies to all employees, adult, and minors, who work 2 or more hours in city limits each week.
- Jan. 1, 2016 $11.00
- Jan. 1, 2017 $13.00
- Jan. 1, 2018 $15.00
- Jan. 1, 2019 Based on CPI
Oakland Minimum Wage
Employers in Oakland will see the minimum wage increase in 2018. It is currently at $12.86. It changes based on the CPI and is estimated to be around $13.23. It changes on January 1, 2018.
- 2017 $12.86
- 2018 $13.23 Based on CPI
Palo Alto Minimum Wage
Minimum wage moves on Jan 1, 2018, from $12.00 to $13.50. It includes all employees working at least 2 hours or more in city limits. Tips cannot count toward the minimum wage.
- 2016 $11.00
- Jan. 1, 2017 $12.00
- Jan. 1, 2018 $13.50
- Jan. 2, 2019 $15.00
Pasadena Minimum Wage
The Pasadena City minimum wages change on July 1, 2018. The required wage depends on the size of the employer, with small employers considered those with 25 or fewer employees. Large employers must pay at least $13.25. It is $12.00 until the end of June. Small employers will see minimum wages move from $10.50 to $12.00 in July.
| Date | Small Employers 1-25 Employees | Large Employers 26+ Employees |
| July 1, 2016 | $10.50 | |
| July 1, 2017 | $10.50 | $12.00 |
| July 1, 2018 | $12.00 | $13.25 |
| July 1, 2019 | $13.25 | $14.25 |
| July 1, 2020 | $14.25 | $15.00 |
| July 1, 2020 | $15.00 | Based on CPI |
Richmond Minimum Wage
Minimum wage changes in Richmond City on January 1, 2018. Unlike many of California’s other cities, who split minimum wage requirements based on the employer’s size, Richmond looks at whether the employee receives benefits or not. If an employer pays at least $1.50 toward an employee’s medical benefits, then the minimum wage paid to the employee can be reduced by $1.50. Employers who don’t receive benefits currently receive a minimum wage of $12.30. In January, they must start earning at least $13.41. Employees who do receive benefits will see their minimum wage go from $10.80 to $11.91.
| Date | Employee Benefits | No Benefits |
| July 1, 2016 | $10.02 | $11.52 |
| July 1, 2017 | $10.08 | $12.30 |
| July 1, 2018 | $11.91 | $13.41 |
| July 1, 2019 | $13.50 | $15.00 |
San Francisco Minimum Wage
Employers in San Francisco will see minimum wage raise on July 1, 2018. The minimum wage will move from its current wage of $14.00 an hour to $15.00 an hour.
- May 1, 2015 $12.15
- July 1, 2016 $13.00
- July 1, 2017 $14.00
- July 1, 2018 $15.00
- July 1, 2019 CPI
San Jose Minimum Wage
San Jose’s minimum wage law changes on Jan. 1, 2018. It raises from $12.00 to $13.50 an hour. The minimum wage for youth training programs is still waiting to be determined.
- Jan. 1, 2017 $10.50
- July 1, 2017 $12.00
- Jan. 1, 2018 $13.50
- Jan. 1, 2019 $15.00
San Leandro Minimum Wage
Employees will see their minimum wage go up on July 1, 2018. It moves up $1 from $12.00 to $13.00. The law covers all employees who work in city limits at least 2 hours a week and includes both adult and minor workers.
- 2016 $10.00
- July 1, 2017 $12.00
- July 1, 2018 $13.00
- July 1, 2019 $14.00
- July 1, 2020 $15.00
San Mateo Minimum Wage
In San Mateo, the minimum wage is split between for-profit and nonprofit companies. For-profit minimum wage moves from $12.50 to $13.00 an hour. The nonprofit employee minimum wage raises from $10.50 to $12.00 an hour. Both wages increase on Jan 1, 2018.
| Date | Non-Profit | For-Profit |
| 2016 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| Jan. 1, 2017 | $10.50 | $12.00 |
| Jan. 1, 2018 | $12.00 | $13.50 |
| Jan. 1, 2019 | $13.50 | $15.00 |
| Jan. 1, 2020 | $15.00 | $15.00 + CPI |
| Jan 1, 2021 | CPI | CPI |
Santa Clara Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Santa Clara also changes on January 1st. It moves from $11.10 to $13.00. All workers who work at least 2 hours or more each week in the city is entitled to minimum wage.
- 2017 $11.10
- Jan. 1, 2018 $13.00
- Jan. 1, 2019 $15.00
- Jan. 1, 2020 Based on the CPI
Santa Monica Minimum Wage
In Santa Monica, the minimum wage law is divided into a wage for small business and large business. The split occurs between 25 and 26 employees. Small employers must pay $12.00 on July 1, 2018. This is up from the current wage of $10.50. Large employers must also pay more. It goes up from $12.00 to $13.25.In addition, Santa Monica has a minimum wage for all hotel employees minimum wage will increase from $15.66 in 2017 to a new wage on July 1st that will match the Los Angeles Hotel Wage. That new wage has not yet been announced.
| Date | Small businesses
1-25 employee |
Large businesses
26+ employees |
All Hotels |
| July 1, 2016 | $10.00 | $10.50 | $13.25 |
| July 1, 2017 | $10.50 | $12.00 | $15.66 |
| July 1, 2018 | $12.00 | $13.25 | Match with LA Hotel Wage CPI |
| July 1, 2019 | $13.25 | $14.25 | CPI |
| July 1, 2020 | $14.25 | $15.00 | CPI |
Sunnyvale Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Sunnyvale increases on January 1st. It goes up from $13.00 to $15.00. Afterward, it increases annually and is based on the regions CPI.
- Jan 1, 2017 $13.00
- Jan 1, 2018 $15.00
- Jan 1, 2019 Based on CPI
Let SwipeClock Help
Businesses across California have various minimum wage laws to comply with and they have overlapping sick leave laws.
Additionally, these businesses have to also comply with Federal Overtime Laws, the Family Medical Leave Act and any other national or local laws that are enacted. SwipeClock provides a comprehensive array of workforce management and time tracking tools that can help businesses to more easily stay in compliance with local and national laws.
Records are effortlessly kept for years and accrual is automatically tracked and reported to employees according to the state and city laws. Additionally, with geo-timekeeping clocks, businesses can effortlessly track time worked in specific cities to ensure compliance.
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Written by Annemaria Duran. Last updated on December 1, 2017
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