Check official requirements, employee thresholds, effective dates, and employer responsibilities for minimum wage.
Municipal ordinances operate concurrently with state and federal labor laws.
$16.90 per hour
The minimum wage in California is $16.90 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table.
The highest applicable minimum wage generally governs; coverage, industry, and employee headcount thresholds still matter. There is no single winning rate for every employer.
Compare every applicable layer in the threshold table below. Use the checker to filter by your business size and industry.
| Jurisdiction / rule | Requirement | Employees / industry | Effective / status | Official source / last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
California California minimum wage |
$16.90 per hour |
0–any employees All industries |
Jan 1, 2026 Current |
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table
Checked Nov 1, 2026 |
California · Minimum wage
$16.90 per hour. The minimum wage in California is $16.90 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table.
Effective January 1, 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table. Last checked November 1, 2026.
Employers with 0 or more employees in California across all industries.
No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.
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