California Minimum Wage (2026)
Built & reviewed by Nandu Kannan · Overtime rules cited to primary statutes
California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour in 2026. California's $16.90 is a statewide floor — many cities and some industries (fast food, health care) require more.
California minimum-wage pay calculator
Pre-set to California's $16.90 minimum. Change the hours, add overtime, and see weekly, monthly and annual gross pay update instantly.
Gross pay before taxes, at California's minimum wage. Overtime at 1.5× the regular rate (federal FLSA); some states add daily overtime — see the state overtime calculator. Not payroll advice.
Tipped minimum wage in California
Tipped workers must be paid the full California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour — no tip credit. California is a "no tip credit" state, so employers cannot count tips toward the minimum wage. Servers, bartenders and other tipped staff earn $16.90 an hour in cash plus any tips on top.
How the tip credit works: the employer pays the cash wage, and your tips count toward the minimum. If your cash wage plus tips don't add up to the full $16.90 for every hour worked, your employer must make up the difference.
California does not allow a tip credit — tipped workers must be paid the full state minimum wage in cash, plus any tips.
Tipped rates as of January 2026, from the U.S. Department of Labor — Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees. Local and industry rules can differ and rates change — verify with your state labor office before relying on these figures.
When will California's minimum wage go up?
California raises its minimum wage automatically each year. Instead of a one-off increase, the rate is adjusted for inflation, so it goes up most years. California adjusts its minimum wage for inflation (CPI-W, capped at 3.5%) every January 1; the 2027 rate is announced in 2026 — indexed, rate set later.
Want to see the next change in every state? See our 2026–2027 minimum wage increases by state.
Scheduled increases verified as of June 2026, from the U.S. Department of Labor and the EPI Minimum Wage Tracker. Future inflation-indexed rates are set by the state later and are not predicted here. Dates and amounts can change — verify with your state labor office before relying on them.
California minimum wage vs. the federal minimum
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. California's effective minimum is $16.90 — $9.65 above the federal floor. Where state and federal minimums differ, employers must pay whichever is higher.
Minimum-wage pay & overtime
At $16.90 an hour, overtime (1.5×) is $25.35 per hour. 1.5× after 8 h/day & 40 h/week, 2× after 12 h/day, plus the 7th-consecutive-day premium. Run your own numbers with the California overtime calculator or convert it to a yearly figure with the salary to hourly calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?
The minimum wage in California is $16.90 per hour as of 2026. California's $16.90 is a statewide floor — many cities and some industries (fast food, health care) require more.
How much is California's minimum wage per year?
At $16.90 an hour, full-time (40 hours a week, 52 weeks) is about $35,152 a year before taxes, or $676 a week.
Is California's minimum wage higher than the federal minimum?
Yes. California's $16.90 is above the federal minimum of $7.25. When state and federal minimums differ, employers must pay the higher rate.
What is overtime pay on California's minimum wage?
Overtime is 1.5× your regular rate, so a minimum-wage worker at $16.90 earns $25.35 per overtime hour. 1.5× after 8 h/day & 40 h/week, 2× after 12 h/day, plus the 7th-consecutive-day premium.
What is the tipped minimum wage in California?
Tipped workers in California must be paid the full California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour in cash — California does not allow a tip credit, so tips are on top of that.
Do tipped workers get full minimum wage in California?
Yes. California does not allow a tip credit, so tipped workers must be paid the full $16.90 minimum wage in cash, with tips on top.
When does California's minimum wage increase?
California does not have a single fixed next increase — it adjusts its minimum wage for inflation automatically each year. California adjusts its minimum wage for inflation (CPI-W, capped at 3.5%) every January 1; the 2027 rate is announced in 2026 — indexed, rate set later.
What will California's minimum wage be in 2027?
California indexes its minimum wage to inflation, so the 2027 rate is set by the state late in 2026 and is expected to be modestly higher than $16.90 — the exact figure is not published yet.
Rate as of January 2026, from the U.S. Department of Labor. Cities and counties may set higher local minimums, and rates change — confirm with your state labor office. General information, not legal or payroll advice.
Related
What's a minimum-wage paycheck after taxes in California?
Minimum wage by state · California overtime · Overtime by state · Salary to Hourly
States with a similar minimum wage
Connecticut — $16.94 · Washington — $17.13 · Hawaii — $16.00 · New York — $16.00 · Rhode Island — $16.00