CA minimum wage to increase in 2025 – find out how much in your area

Published on

CALIFORNIA –  California is increasing the minimum wage, starting January 1, 2025, to $16.50 per hour statewide – up from the current wage of $16.

Although the recent Proposition 32 failed to get the votes needed to increase California minimum wage to $18 per hour, the 50 cent increase is due to a statutory adjustment tied to inflation.

According to Rosasco Law Group, one of the protections of the minimum wage law is an annual review of the wage rate using the U.S. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (U.S. CPI-W).  

This year, the Department of Finance calculated that the average U.S. CPI-W for the 12-month period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, increased by 3.18% compared to the 12-month period from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023,” says Rosasco Law Group on their website.

As a result, the minimum wage was increased to $16.50 for all employers to begin at the start of next year.

The minimum salary for exempt status employees will also increase from $66,560 per year ($1,280 per week) to $68,640 per year ($1,320 per week) beginning January 1, 2025.

Fast-food and healthcare minimum wage

Certain fast-food workers must be paid $20 per hour based on the state law that took effect this year. The California Fast Food Council has the authority to raise the fast-food minimum wage effective January 1, 2025, but so far has not acted to do so.  

In addition, certain healthcare industry employees must be paid a minimum of $23 an hour through June 30, 2025, which will then increase to $24 an hour. The healthcare minimum wage is set to increase another dollar per hour to $25 an hour on July 1, 2026. 

Local minimum wage increases

Many cities across California also have local minimum wage increases taking effect January 1, 2025.

Here’s a list of local minimum wage rate increases across the state:

  • Belmont: $18.30 per hour
  • Burlingame: $17.43 per hour
  • Cupertino: $18.20 per hour
  • Daly City: $17.07 per hour
  • East Palo Alto: $17.45 per hour
  • El Cerrito: $18.34 per hour
  • Foster City: $17.40 per hour
  • Half Moon Bay: $17.47 per hour
  • Hayward: $17.36 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees; $16.50 per hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees (per state law)
  • Los Altos: $18.20 per hour
  • Menlo Park: $17.10 per hour
  • Mountain View: $19.20 per hour
  • Novato: $17.27 per hour for employers with 100 or more employees; $17 per hour for employers with 26-99 employees; $16.42 per hour for employers with 1-25 employees (however, small employers must pay California’s higher state minimum wage rate of $16.50 per hour)
  • Oakland: $16.98 per hour
  • Palo Alto: $18.20 per hour
  • Petaluma: $17.97 per hour
  • Redwood City: $18.20 per hour
  • Richmond: $17.77 per hour
  • San Carlos: $17.32 per hour
  • San Diego (city): $17.25 per hour
  • San Jose: $17.95 per hour
  • San Mateo (city): $17.95 per hour
  • San Mateo County: $17.46 per hour
  • Santa Clara: $18.20 per hour
  • Santa Rosa: $17.87 per hour
  • Sonoma (city): $18.02 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees; $16.96 per hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees.
  • South San Francisco: $17.70 per hour
  • Sunnyvale: $19.00 per hour
  • West Hollywood: $19.65 per hour

Get help if employer not paying minimum wage

State law requires that most California workers be paid the minimum wage. 

Workers who aren’t being paid at least the minimum wage can get help by contacting the Labor Commissioner’s Office to file a complaint about unpaid wages.

RELATED: Unofficial election results – Californians reject rent control and $18 minimum wage 

spot_img

Latest articles

California ex-Amtrak worker gets over 2 years for nearly $1 Million COVID jobless fraud

CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a California ex-Amtrak worker...

Victorville reports a surge in hotel applications and other economic updates

VICTORVILLE – The City of Victorville announced, July 17, a surge in hotel development...

Ex-bishop pleads guilty to fraud involving millions in California church properties

CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a former AME Zion...

Auto Club reports gas prices have dropped for the fourth straight week in SoCal

CALIFORNIA – Southern California gas prices are now within a dime of 2025’s lowest,...

More like this

CA representative Nancy Pelosi discloses over $1 Million in Broadcom stock purchase amid AI surge

CALIFORNIA – California representative Nancy Pelosi has disclosed a purchase of Broadcom Inc. (AVGO)...

New Car Dealer Association offering paid 2-year auto tech apprenticeship to fill 5,000 CA jobs

CALIFORNIA – The California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) Foundation, announced July 10 that...

SoCal dad wins $5 million from scratcher while giving his wife some ‘mommy time’

CALIFORNIA – California Lottery announced, June 18, a California dad won $5 million from...