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San Diego, California · OFFICIAL SOURCES & THRESHOLDS

San Diego, California
Minimum wage.

Check official requirements, employee thresholds, effective dates, and employer responsibilities for minimum wage.

Notice: General informational guidance, not legal advice. Read the full legal disclaimer. Federal, state, and municipal regulations operate concurrently.
Part of California Employment Compliance

Municipal ordinances operate concurrently with state and federal labor laws.

California Minimum wage → All California Rules →

Separate San Diego rules

Minimum wage · San DiegoChanged recently

San Diego minimum wage

$17.75 per hour

The minimum wage in San Diego is $17.75 per hour effective January 1, 2026, under the city's Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, per the City of San Diego. Separate Hospitality Minimum Wage Ordinance rates took effect July 1, 2026 for covered hotel, amusement park, and event center workers.

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in San Diego · All industries
Effective
Jan 1, 2026
Official source: City of San Diego — Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.

Applicable state and federal rules

These are state or federal requirements that may also apply within San Diego. Each entry remains labeled with its own jurisdiction and source.

Minimum wage · United StatesChanged recently

United States minimum wage

$7.25 per hour

The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in United States · All industries
Effective
Jul 24, 2009
Official source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.
Minimum wage · CaliforniaChanged recently

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.

Employee threshold: 0+ employees in California · All industries
Effective
Jan 1, 2026

Local notes & what to do

California's minimum wage rose to $16.90 on January 1, 2026, which automatically lifted the exempt salary floor to $70,304 a year because the threshold is set at twice the minimum wage. California is unusual in having daily overtime (1.5x after 8 hours in a day, 2x after 12) and it allows no tip credit at all. Paid family leave benefits rose on January 1, 2025 to 90% of wages for workers earning under $63,000 a year. Many California cities set local minimum wages above the state rate.

Official source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table Last checked Nov 1, 2026
No expert reviewer assigned to this entry. General information, not legal advice.

City, state, and federal: which rate wins?

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.

Thresholds, dates & upcoming changes

Jurisdiction / rule Requirement Employees / industry Effective / status Official source / last checked
United States
United States minimum wage 		$7.25 per hour 0–any employees
All industries 		Jul 24, 2009
Current 		U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act
Checked Nov 1, 2026
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
San Diego
San Diego minimum wage 		$17.75 per hour 0–any employees
All industries 		Jan 1, 2026
Current 		City of San Diego — Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance
Checked Nov 1, 2026
THE DATED RECORD

What changed in San Diego, California?

California · Minimum wage

Local guidance changed from not previously published to California's minimum wage rose to $16.90 on January 1, 2026, which automatically lifted the exempt salary floor to $70,304 a year because the threshold is set at twice the minimum wage. California is unusual in having daily overtime (1.5x after 8 hours in a day, 2x after 12) and it allows no tip credit at all. Paid family leave benefits rose on January 1, 2025 to 90% of wages for workers earning under $63,000 a year. Many California cities set local minimum wages above the state rate..

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table · Effective Jan 1, 2026 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026 · View current requirement →

San Diego · Minimum wage

Rule name changed from not previously published to San Diego minimum wage. Summary changed from not previously published to The minimum wage in San Diego is $17.75 per hour effective January 1, 2026, under the city's Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, per the City of San Diego. Separate Hospitality Minimum Wage Ordinance rates took effect July 1, 2026 for covered hotel, amusement park, and event center workers.. Requirement changed from not previously published to $17.75 per hour. Numeric amount changed from not previously published to 17.75. Minimum employer size changed from not previously published to 0 employees. Effective date changed from not previously published to Jan 1, 2026. Publication status changed from not previously published to active. Industry coverage changed from not previously published to not published.

Source: City of San Diego — Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance · Effective Jan 1, 2026 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026 · View current requirement →

United States · Minimum wage

Rule name changed from not previously published to United States minimum wage. Summary changed from not previously published to The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).. Requirement changed from not previously published to $7.25 per hour. Numeric amount changed from not previously published to 7.25. Minimum employer size changed from not previously published to 0 employees. Effective date changed from not previously published to Jul 24, 2009. Publication status changed from not previously published to active. Industry coverage changed from not previously published to not published.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act · Effective Jul 24, 2009 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026

California · Minimum wage

Rule name changed from not previously published to California minimum wage. Summary changed from not previously published to The minimum wage in California is $16.90 per hour, per the U.S. Department of Labor consolidated minimum wage table.. Requirement changed from not previously published to $16.90 per hour. Numeric amount changed from not previously published to 16.9. Effective date changed from not previously published to Jan 1, 2026. Publication status changed from not previously published to active. Minimum employer size changed from not previously published to 0 employees. Industry coverage changed from not previously published to not published.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table · Effective Jan 1, 2026 · Last checked Nov 1, 2026 · View current requirement →
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions employers ask about Minimum wage in San Diego, California

What is the United States minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$7.25 per hour. The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Where a state or local law sets a higher minimum wage, the employee is entitled to the higher rate (U.S. Department of Labor).

When did United States minimum wage take effect?

Effective July 24, 2009. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow United States minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in United States across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating United States minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

What is the California minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$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.

When did California minimum wage take effect?

Effective January 1, 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — Consolidated Minimum Wage Table. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow California minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in California across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating California minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

What is the San Diego minimum wage requirement for 0+ employees?

$17.75 per hour. The minimum wage in San Diego is $17.75 per hour effective January 1, 2026, under the city's Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, per the City of San Diego. Separate Hospitality Minimum Wage Ordinance rates took effect July 1, 2026 for covered hotel, amusement park, and event center workers.

When did San Diego minimum wage take effect?

Effective January 1, 2026. Source: City of San Diego — Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance. Last checked November 1, 2026.

Who must follow San Diego minimum wage?

Employers with 0 or more employees in California across all industries.

What is the penalty for violating San Diego minimum wage?

No penalty information has been published in this entry. Consult the official source.

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