California minimum wage 2027
$17.40 from January 1, 2027, up from $16.90 now (+$0.50, +2.96%). Checked on the official page on 2026-09-30.
| Figure | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage now | $16.90 | January 1, 2026 | In force |
| Minimum wage 2027 | $17.40 | January 1, 2027 | Announced |
| Tipped cash wage now | Full minimum wage (no tip credit) | ||
| Tipped cash wage 2027 | Full minimum wage (no tip credit) | No change | |
| Exempt salary threshold now | $70,304 a year ($1,352.00 a week) | January 1, 2026 | In force |
| Exempt salary threshold 2027 | $72,384 a year ($1,392.00 a week) | January 1, 2027 | Announced |
Announced: The official 2027 figure has been published.
Coverage: Higher statewide rates apply to fast food and certain health care workers; many cities/counties have higher local rates.
What it costs per employee
For someone paid exactly $16.90 today, reaching $17.40 is +$0.50 an hour: $1,040 a year at 40 hours a week (52 weeks), before payroll taxes. Staff already paid above the new rate cost nothing; paste your list into the raise calculator to see who falls under it and from when.
Local rates in California
| Place | Now | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Berkeley | $19.61 | To be announced, expected by May 2027 (takes effect July 1, 2027) |
| Los Angeles (city) | $18.42 | To be announced, expected by February 2027 (takes effect July 1, 2027) |
| Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas) | $18.47 | To be announced (takes effect July 1, 2027) |
| Mountain View | $19.70 | To be announced (takes effect January 1, 2027) |
| Oakland | $17.34 | To be announced (takes effect January 1, 2027) |
| Pasadena | $18.57 | To be announced (takes effect July 1, 2027) |
| San Diego (city) | $17.75 | $18.35 from January 1, 2027 |
| San Francisco | $19.61 | To be announced (takes effect July 1, 2027) |
| San Jose | $18.45 | To be announced, expected by October 2026 (takes effect January 1, 2027) |
| Santa Monica | $18.47 | To be announced, expected by January 2027 (takes effect July 1, 2027) |
| Sunnyvale | $19.50 | To be announced, expected by November 2026 (takes effect January 1, 2027) |
| West Hollywood | $20.25 | To be announced (takes effect January 1, 2027) |
Look up another place
Minimum wage at the end of 2027, California
$17.40
Announced$17.40 from January 1, 2027
California minimum wage
2027
- $17.40 from January 1, 2027AnnouncedSource, checked 2026-09-30
Higher statewide rates apply to fast food and certain health care workers; many cities/counties have higher local rates.
- Tipped cash wage now
- Full minimum wage (no tip credit)
- Tipped cash wage 2027
- Full minimum wage (no tip credit)
- Exempt salary threshold (California)
- Now $70,304 a year ($1,352.00 a week); 2027: $72,384 a year ($1,392.00 a week) from January 1, 2027
Budgeting 2027 raises? Pro makes it a workbook.
Your staff list with the 2027 floor per person, the raise, its cost and the exempt salary check, a totals sheet and a rate card per state with sources, as Excel with live formulas.
Sources for California
- California: rate now: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_minimumwage.htm, read on 2026-09-30
- California: 2027-01-01: https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2026/2026-66.html, read on 2026-09-30
- California: tipped wage: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped, read on 2026-09-30
- Exempt salary threshold: https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2026/2026-66.html, read on 2026-09-30
- Berkeley: rate now: https://berkeleyca.gov/doing-business/operating-berkeley/workforce-standards-and-enforcement, read on 2026-09-30
- Berkeley: 2027-07-01: https://berkeley.municipal.codes/BMC/13.99.040, read on 2026-09-30
- Los Angeles (city): rate now: https://wagesla.lacity.gov/sites/g/files/wph1941/files/2026-04/2026%20MWR%20Increase%20Memo%2001-30-26%20ADA%20Final.pdf, read on 2026-09-30
- Los Angeles (city): 2027-07-01: https://wagesla.lacity.gov/, read on 2026-09-30
- Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas): rate now: https://dcba.lacounty.gov/minimum-wage/, read on 2026-09-30
- Mountain View: rate now: https://econdev.mountainview.gov/resources/city-minimum-wage, read on 2026-09-30
- Oakland: rate now: https://www.oaklandca.gov/Government/Departments/Workplace-Employment-Standards/Oakland-Minimum-Wage-Sick-Leave-and-Other-Labor-Laws, read on 2026-09-30
- Oakland: 2027-01-01: https://www.oaklandca.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/econ-workforce-dev/documents/faq-oaklands-minimum-wage-law/85423-cms_measure-ff-reso.pdf, read on 2026-09-30
- Pasadena: rate now: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/city-manager/news/pasadenas-minimum-wage-rate-increases-to-18-57-effective-july-1-2026/, read on 2026-09-30
- San Diego (city): rate now: https://www.sandiego.gov/labor-and-wage/minimum-wage/earned-sick-leave, read on 2026-09-30
- San Diego (city): 2027-01-01: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2026-09/2027-minimum-wage-notice-5-languages-sept-2026.pdf, read on 2026-09-30
- San Francisco: rate now: https://www.sf.gov/information--minimum-wage-ordinance, read on 2026-09-30
- San Jose: rate now: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/public-works/labor-compliance/minimum-wage-ordinance, read on 2026-09-30
- San Jose: 2027-01-01: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/21157/636688150095130000, read on 2026-09-30
- Santa Monica: rate now: https://www.santamonica.gov/minimum-wage, read on 2026-09-30
- Sunnyvale: rate now: https://www.sunnyvale.ca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/139/111, read on 2026-09-30
- Sunnyvale: 2027-01-01: https://ecode360.com/42711127, read on 2026-09-30
- West Hollywood: rate now: https://www.weho.org/business/operate-your-business/minimum-wage, read on 2026-09-30
Rates from official state and city sources, checked on the date shown next to each figure. Some 2027 rates are announced later in the year. Not legal advice; check your state labor department and local ordinances. Not affiliated with the US Department of Labor or any state agency.
Frequently asked questions
- What will the minimum wage be in California in 2027?
- $17.40 from January 1, 2027. It is $16.90 now (since January 1, 2026).
- When does the California minimum wage go up in 2027?
- January 1, 2027.
- What is the tipped minimum wage in California in 2027?
- California does not allow a tip credit: tipped staff get the full minimum wage before tips.
- What is the exempt salary threshold in California in 2027?
- $72,384 a year ($1,392.00 a week) from January 1, 2027; now $70,304 a year ($1,352.00 a week). Below it, a salaried employee is owed overtime even with exempt duties.