California Minimum Wage Increases on January 1, 2027
Rates that take effect on January 1, 2027, highest first. Employers pay the highest rate that applies where employees work. More cities are added once their official pages are confirmed.
Each item was checked against its official source on October 18, 2026.
California (statewide)
$17.40
California's statewide minimum wage will rise to $17.40 per hour effective January 1, 2027.
West Hollywood
$20.94
West Hollywood's citywide minimum wage for non-hotel employees rises from $20.25 to $20.94 per hour on January 1, 2027, and stays there through December 31, 2027. Hotel employees stay at $20.87 per hour until June 30, 2027.
Richmond
$19.61
Richmond's minimum wage rises from $19.18 to $19.61 per hour on January 1, 2027. Every employer must post the official notice the city publishes each year.
El Cerrito
$19.36
El Cerrito's minimum wage rises from $18.82 to $19.36 per hour on January 1, 2027. The city adjusts it each January 1 based on the local Consumer Price Index and has posted its official 2027 wage bulletin.
Redwood City
$19.30
Redwood City's minimum wage rises from $18.65 to $19.30 per hour on January 1, 2027. It covers employees who work at least 2 hours a week in the city, unless a higher industry-specific minimum wage covers them.
Cupertino
$19.25
Cupertino's minimum wage rises from $18.70 to $19.25 per hour on January 1, 2027.
Los Altos
$19.25
Los Altos's minimum wage rises from $18.70 to $19.25 per hour on January 1, 2027, under Ordinance No. 2016-424 and the Bay Area Consumer Price Index. The city has posted its 2027 official notice for employers to post.
Palo Alto
$19.25
Palo Alto's minimum wage rises from $18.70 to $19.25 per hour on January 1, 2027. The city has posted its 2027 employer poster and employee Know Your Rights poster.
Santa Clara
$19.25
The City of Santa Clara's minimum wage rises from $18.70 to $19.25 per hour on January 1, 2027. The city says its 2027 workplace posters will be on its minimum wage page by November 1, 2026.
San Mateo
$19.25
As of January 1, 2027, employers must pay each employee who works in the City of San Mateo at least $19.25 per hour, up from $18.60.
Petaluma
$18.93
The 2027 minimum wage within Petaluma city limits is $18.93 per hour, a 3.4% increase. The 2027 learner's wage is $16.10 per hour.
Burlingame
$18.47
Burlingame's minimum wage rises from $17.86 to $18.47 per hour on January 1, 2027. The city has posted its 2027 required employer posting.
Hayward
$18.39
Employers with 26 or more employees pay at least $18.39 per hour from January 1, 2027, up from $17.79. Employers with 25 or fewer pay the state rate, $17.40.
San Carlos
$18.35
San Carlos's minimum wage rises from $17.75 to $18.35 per hour on January 1, 2027. From 2028 it rises each January 1 by the CPI-U, capped at 3.5%. The city has posted its 2027 official notice in English, Spanish and Chinese.
Novato
$18.25
Businesses with 100 or more employees pay at least $18.25 per hour from January 1, 2027, and those with 26 to 99 pay $17.97. Businesses with 1 to 25 employees pay the state rate, $17.40. The official 2027 notice must be posted where employees can see it.
A city missing here had not posted a 2027 rate RegWatch could confirm on its official page by the check date, or adjusts its rate on July 1 instead, as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Fremont do.
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