Thousands of California minimum wage earners will see their wages increase starting January 1, 2023.
According to the Department of Labor Relations (DIR), the minimum wage for all businesses, regardless of the number of workers, will be $15.50 an hour.
The annual increase is part of a law passed in California that calls for a gradual increase in the minimum wage from $10 an hour in 2017 to $15.50 an hour in 2023.
The wage increase applies to the entire state of California, however, some cities and counties have enacted ordinances that allow for greater increases in the minimum wage.
For such cities, “the employer must adhere to stricter standards; that is, that which is most beneficial to the employee”, and should therefore be governed by the payment of the highest minimum wage.
DIR further reminds that the minimum wage is a requirement for all employers in California. According to official information, “the minimum wage is an obligation of the employer that cannot be waived by any agreement, including collective agreements.”
California cities with the highest minimum wages
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of cities requiring higher minimum wages within their jurisdiction than California.
DIR refers to the UC Berkeley Job Center’s list of cities and counties with the highest minimum wages in the Golden State.
almida: As of 7/1/2022 the minimum wage is $15.75.
belmont: Minimum wage will be $16.75 effective 1/1/2023
Berkeley: Minimum wage is $16.99 7/1/2022
burlingame: Minimum wage will be $16.47 effective 1/1/2023
cupertino: Minimum wage will be $17.20 effective 1/1/2023
Daly City: Minimum wage will be $16.07 effective 1/1/2023east palo alto: Minimum wage will be $16.50 effective 1/1/2023
hill: Minimum wage will be $17.35 effective 1/1/2023
emeryville: Minimum wage as of 7/1/2022 is $17.68
Foster City: Starting 1/1/2023 the minimum wage will be $16.50
Fremont: Minimum wage as of 7/1/2022 is $16.00
half moon bay: Minimum wage as of 1/1/2023 is $16.45
hayward: The minimum wage will be $16.34 effective 1/1/2023. (The payment for small employers in Hayward is similar to the $15.50 from the state of California.)
tall ones: Minimum wage will be $17.20 effective 1/1/2023
shifts: Minimum wage as of 7/1/2022 is $16.04
Los Angeles County (Unincorporated): Minimum wage as of 7/1/2022 is $15.96
Malibu: Minimum wage as of 7/1/2022 is $15.96
Menlo Park: Minimum wage will be $16.20 effective 1/1/2023
Milpitas: Minimum wage as of 7/1/2022 is $16.40
Mountain View: Minimum wage will be $18.15 effective 1/1/2023
Oakland: Minimum wage will be $15.97 effective 1/1/2023
Palo Alto: Starting 1/1/2023 the minimum wage will be $17.25
Pasadena: Minimum wage is $16.11 as of 7/1/2022
Petaluma: Minimum wage will be $17.06 effective 1/1/2023
redwood city: Minimum wage will be $17.00 effective 1/1/2023
Richmond: Minimum wage will be $16.17 effective 1/1/2023
St. Charles: Minimum wage will be $16.32 effective 1/1/2023
San Diego: Minimum wage will be $16.30 effective 1/1/2023
san francisco: Minimum wage is $16.99 as of 7/1/2022
Saint Joseph: Minimum wage will be $17.00 effective 1/1/2023
St. Matthew: Starting 1/1/2023 the minimum wage will be $16.75
Santa Clara: Minimum wage will be $17.20 effective 1/1/2023
Santa Monica: Minimum wage as of 7/1/2022 is $15.96
santa rosa: Minimum wage will be $17.06 effective 1/1/2023
Sonoma: The minimum wage will be $17.00 effective 1/1/2023. ($16.00 for small employers)
south san francisco: Minimum wage will be $16.70 effective 1/1/2023
sunnyvale: Starting 1/1/2023 the minimum wage will be $17.95
West Hollywood: Starting 1/1/2023 the minimum wage will be $17.50. ($17.00 for small employers with 49 or fewer employees)
