The minimum wage is 16.9 USD per hour for all employers, not otherwise covered by a higher minimum wage specific to an industry or a locality. learners: 85% of the general rate. outside salespersons: excluded from the minimum wage. individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer: excluded from the minimum wage. apprentices: excluded from the minimum wage.
Effective from until ; verified on . The state rule (California) is the highest of the 2 levels compared; every level is listed below.
The minimum wage is 7.25 USD per hour for Covered, nonexempt workers. tipped employees: 2.13 USD per hour. employees under 20 years of age (youth minimum wage): 4.25 USD per hour. Executive, administrative, and professional employees, outside sales employees, and employees in certain computer-related occupations: excluded from the minimum wage. Employees of certain seasonal amusement or recreational establishments, certain small newspapers, seamen on foreign vessels, fishing operations, newspaper delivery: excluded from the minimum wage. Farmworkers of small farm employers: excluded from the minimum wage. Casual babysitters and companions to the elderly or infirm: excluded from the minimum wage.
Version 3 · effective from · verified on
Verification: approved by a person (carried over from Juriset's first release).
Amount
7.25
Currency
USD
Per unit
hour
Applies to
Covered, nonexempt workers
Exceptions
Amount
2.13
Category
tipped employees
Condition
individuals engaged in occupations in which they customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips. The employer may consider tips as part of wages, but the employer must pay at least $2.13 an hour in direct wages.
Amount
4.25
Category
employees under 20 years of age (youth minimum wage)
Condition
permitted for employees under 20 years of age during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer
Category
Executive, administrative, and professional employees, outside sales employees, and employees in certain computer-related occupations
Excluded
yes
Condition
Exemptions from Both Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay: Executive, administrative, and professional employees (including teachers and academic administrative personnel in elementary and secondary schools), outside sales employees, and employees in certain computer-related occupations (as defined in DOL regulations)
State: Californiaanswers
The minimum wage is 16.9 USD per hour for all employers, not otherwise covered by a higher minimum wage specific to an industry or a locality. learners: 85% of the general rate. outside salespersons: excluded from the minimum wage. individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer: excluded from the minimum wage. apprentices: excluded from the minimum wage.
Version 5 · effective from until · verified on
Verification: approved by a person (carried over from Juriset's first release).
Tiers
Amount
20
Industry
fast food restaurants
Condition
all “fast food restaurant employees” who are covered by the new law (limited-service restaurant in California, part of a restaurant chain of at least 60 establishments nationwide, primarily engaged in selling food and beverages for immediate consumption; some fast food restaurants are exempt)
Amount
25
Industry
health care
Condition
Hospital or integrated health system with 10,000 or more full-time employees (including skilled nursing facilities operated by these employers); 7/1/26 to 12/31/27
Amount
25
Industry
health care
Condition
Dialysis Clinics; 7/1/26 to 12/31/27
Amount
19.28
Industry
health care
Condition
Safety Net Hospitals; 7/1/26 to 6/30/27
Amount
22
Industry
health care
Condition
Intermittent clinics, community clinics, rural health clinics, or urgent care clinics associated with community or rural health clinics; 7/1/26 to 6/30/27
Amount
23
Industry
Upcoming changes
From : State (California)amendment
minimum_wage in us-ca: version 6, effective 2027-01-01, published (amendment); replaces version 5
The minimum wage is 17.4 USD per hour for most California workers. learners: 85% of the general rate. outside salespersons: excluded from the minimum wage. individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer: excluded from the minimum wage. apprentices: excluded from the minimum wage.
Version 6 · effective from until · verified on
Verification: approved by a person (carried over from Juriset's first release).
Tiers
Amount
20
Industry
fast food restaurants
Condition
all “fast food restaurant employees” who are covered by the new law (limited-service restaurant in California, part of a restaurant chain of at least 60 establishments nationwide, primarily engaged in selling food and beverages for immediate consumption; some fast food restaurants are exempt)
Amount
25
Industry
health care
Condition
Hospital or integrated health system with 10,000 or more full-time employees (including skilled nursing facilities operated by these employers); 7/1/26 to 12/31/27
Amount
25
Industry
health care
Condition
Dialysis Clinics; 7/1/26 to 12/31/27
Amount
19.28
Industry
health care
Condition
Safety Net Hospitals; 7/1/26 to 6/30/27
Amount
22
Industry
health care
Condition
Intermittent clinics, community clinics, rural health clinics, or urgent care clinics associated with community or rural health clinics; 7/1/26 to 6/30/27
Change history
Federal: United States
Version
Effective
Published
Change
Value
2superseded
new
minimum_wage in us: version 2, effective 2026-10-23, published (new)
The minimum wage is 7.25 USD per hour for employees engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, or employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce. Newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old: 4.25 USD per hour.
3in effect
correction
minimum_wage in us: version 3, effective 2009-07-24, published (correction); replaces version 2. Replaces version 2 (published effective 2026-10-23, the fetch date; its source stated no date)
The minimum wage is 7.25 USD per hour for Covered, nonexempt workers. tipped employees: 2.13 USD per hour. employees under 20 years of age (youth minimum wage): 4.25 USD per hour. Executive, administrative, and professional employees, outside sales employees, and employees in certain computer-related occupations: excluded from the minimum wage. Employees of certain seasonal amusement or recreational establishments, certain small newspapers, seamen on foreign vessels, fishing operations, newspaper delivery: excluded from the minimum wage. Farmworkers of small farm employers: excluded from the minimum wage. Casual babysitters and companions to the elderly or infirm: excluded from the minimum wage.
State: California
Version
Effective
Published
Change
Value
7
amendment
minimum_wage in us-ca: version 7, effective 2027-07-01, published (amendment); replaces version 6
The minimum wage is 17.4 USD per hour for most California workers. learners: 85% of the general rate. outside salespersons: excluded from the minimum wage. individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer: excluded from the minimum wage. apprentices: excluded from the minimum wage.
The response holds everything on this page, including each level's sources. See the API docs; a free key is enough for today's rule.
Informational only. Not legal advice. Verify with the cited source.
Category
Employees of certain seasonal amusement or recreational establishments, certain small newspapers, seamen on foreign vessels, fishing operations, newspaper delivery
Excluded
yes
Condition
Exemptions from Both Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay: Employees of certain seasonal amusement or recreational establishments, employees of certain small newspapers, seamen employed on foreign vessels, employees engaged in fishing operations, and employees engaged in newspaper delivery
Category
Farmworkers of small farm employers
Excluded
yes
Condition
Exemptions from Both Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay: Farmworkers employed by anyone who used no more than 500 “man-days” of farm labor in any calendar quarter of the preceding calendar year
Category
Casual babysitters and companions to the elderly or infirm
Excluded
yes
Condition
Exemptions from Both Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay: Casual babysitters and persons employed as companions to the elderly or infirm.
Covered, nonexempt workers are entitled to a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. … Tipped employees are individuals engaged in occupations in which they customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips. The employer may consider tips as part of wages, but the employer must pay at least $2.13 an hour in direct wages. … A minimum wage of not less than $4.25 an hour is permitted for employees under 20 years of age during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer. … Exemptions from Both Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay … Executive, administrative, and professional employees (including teachers and academic administrative personnel in elementary and secondary schools), outside sales employees, and employees in certain computer-related occupations (as defined in DOL regulations); … Employees of certain seasonal amusement or recreational establishments, employees of certain small newspapers, seamen employed on foreign vessels, employees engaged in fishing operations, and employees engaged in newspaper delivery; … Farmworkers employed by anyone who used no more than 500 “man-days” of farm labor in any calendar quarter of the preceding calendar year; … Casual babysitters and persons employed as companions to the elderly or infirm.
(C) $7.25 an hour, beginning 24 months after that 60th day; … (1) In lieu of the rate prescribed by subsection (a)(1), any employer may pay any employee of such employer, during the first 90 consecutive calendar days after such employee is initially employed by such employer, a wage which is not less than $4.25 an hour. … (5) This subsection shall only apply to an employee who has not attained the age of 20 years
Effective January 1, 2026, the minimum wage is $16.90 per hour for all employers, not otherwise covered by a higher minimum wage specific to an industry or a locality. … There are some employees who are exempt from the minimum wage law, such as outside salespersons, individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer, and apprentices regularly indentured under the State Division of Apprenticeship Standards. … There is an exception for learners , regardless of age, who may be paid not less than 85 percent of the minimum wage rounded to the nearest nickel during their first 160 hours of employment in occupations in which they have no previous similar or related experience.
Hospital or integrated health system with 10,000 or more full-time employees (including skilled nursing facilities operated by these employers) | 10/16/24 to 6/30/25: $23 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $24 7/1/26 to 12/31/27: $25 … Dialysis Clinics | 10/16/24 to 6/30/25: $23 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $24 7/1/26 to 12/31/27: $25 … Safety Net Hospitals ( see FAQ 14 ) | 10/16/24 to 6/30/25: $18 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $18.63 7/1/26 to 6/30/27: $19.28 … Intermittent clinics, community clinics, rural health clinics, or urgent care clinics associated with community or rural health clinics | 10/16/24 to 6/30/26: $21 7/1/26 to 6/30/27: $22 … All other covered health care facilities not listed in the other categories and not run by Counties | 10/16/24 to 6/30/26: $21 7/1/26 to 6/30/28: $23 … Covered Health Care Facilities run by Large Counties (more than five million people as of 1/1/23) | 1/1/25 to 6/30/25: $23 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $24 7/1/26 to 12/31/27: $25 … Covered Health Care Facilities run by Medium Sized Counties (250,000 to five million people as of 1/1/23) | 1/1/25 to 6/30/26: $21 7/1/26 to 6/30/28: $23 … Covered Health Care Facilities run by Small Counties (less than 250,000 people as of 1/1/23) | 1/1/25 to 6/30/25: $18 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $18.63 7/1/26 to 6/30/27: $19.28
Beginning January 1, 2027, California’s statewide minimum wage will increase to $17.40 per hour … State law requires that most California workers be paid at least the minimum wage
There are some employees who are exempt from the minimum wage law, such as outside salespersons, individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer, and apprentices regularly indentured under the State Division of Apprenticeship Standards. … There is an exception for learners , regardless of age, who may be paid not less than 85 percent of the minimum wage rounded to the nearest nickel during their first 160 hours of employment in occupations in which they have no previous similar or related experience.
Hospital or integrated health system with 10,000 or more full-time employees (including skilled nursing facilities operated by these employers) | 10/16/24 to 6/30/25: $23 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $24 7/1/26 to 12/31/27: $25 … Dialysis Clinics | 10/16/24 to 6/30/25: $23 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $24 7/1/26 to 12/31/27: $25 … Safety Net Hospitals ( see FAQ 14 ) | 10/16/24 to 6/30/25: $18 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $18.63 7/1/26 to 6/30/27: $19.28 … Intermittent clinics, community clinics, rural health clinics, or urgent care clinics associated with community or rural health clinics | 10/16/24 to 6/30/26: $21 7/1/26 to 6/30/27: $22 … All other covered health care facilities not listed in the other categories and not run by Counties | 10/16/24 to 6/30/26: $21 7/1/26 to 6/30/28: $23 … Covered Health Care Facilities run by Large Counties (more than five million people as of 1/1/23) | 1/1/25 to 6/30/25: $23 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $24 7/1/26 to 12/31/27: $25 … Covered Health Care Facilities run by Medium Sized Counties (250,000 to five million people as of 1/1/23) | 1/1/25 to 6/30/26: $21 7/1/26 to 6/30/28: $23 … Covered Health Care Facilities run by Small Counties (less than 250,000 people as of 1/1/23) | 1/1/25 to 6/30/25: $18 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $18.63 7/1/26 to 6/30/27: $19.28
minimum_wage in us-ca: version 7, effective 2027-07-01, published (amendment); replaces version 6
The minimum wage is 17.4 USD per hour for most California workers. learners: 85% of the general rate. outside salespersons: excluded from the minimum wage. individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer: excluded from the minimum wage. apprentices: excluded from the minimum wage.
Version 7 · effective from · verified on
Verification: approved by a person (carried over from Juriset's first release).
Tiers
Amount
20
Industry
fast food restaurants
Condition
all “fast food restaurant employees” who are covered by the new law (limited-service restaurant in California, part of a restaurant chain of at least 60 establishments nationwide, primarily engaged in selling food and beverages for immediate consumption; some fast food restaurants are exempt)
Amount
25
Industry
health care
Condition
Hospital or integrated health system with 10,000 or more full-time employees (including skilled nursing facilities operated by these employers); 7/1/26 to 12/31/27
Amount
25
Industry
health care
Condition
Dialysis Clinics; 7/1/26 to 12/31/27
Amount
19.95
Industry
health care
Condition
Safety Net Hospitals; 7/1/27 to 6/30/28
Amount
25
Industry
health care
Condition
Intermittent clinics, community clinics, rural health clinics, or urgent care clinics associated with community or rural health clinics; 7/1/27 to 12/31/28
Amount
23
Industry
health care
Condition
All other covered health care facilities not listed in the other categories and not run by Counties; 7/1/26 to 6/30/28
Amount
25
Industry
health care
Condition
Covered Health Care Facilities run by Large Counties (more than five million people as of 1/1/23); 7/1/26 to 12/31/27
Amount
23
Industry
health care
Condition
Covered Health Care Facilities run by Medium Sized Counties (250,000 to five million people as of 1/1/23); 7/1/26 to 6/30/28
Amount
19.95
Industry
health care
Condition
Covered Health Care Facilities run by Small Counties (less than 250,000 people as of 1/1/23); 7/1/27 to 6/30/28
Amount
17.4
Currency
USD
Per unit
hour
Applies to
most California workers
Exceptions
Category
learners
Rounding
rounded to the nearest nickel
Condition
learners, regardless of age, during their first 160 hours of employment in occupations in which they have no previous similar or related experience
Percent of general
85
Category
outside salespersons
Excluded
yes
Condition
exempt from the minimum wage law
Category
individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer
Excluded
yes
Condition
exempt from the minimum wage law
Category
apprentices
Excluded
yes
Condition
apprentices regularly indentured under the State Division of Apprenticeship Standards are exempt from the minimum wage law
Beginning January 1, 2027, California’s statewide minimum wage will increase to $17.40 per hour … State law requires that most California workers be paid at least the minimum wage
There are some employees who are exempt from the minimum wage law, such as outside salespersons, individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer, and apprentices regularly indentured under the State Division of Apprenticeship Standards. … There is an exception for learners , regardless of age, who may be paid not less than 85 percent of the minimum wage rounded to the nearest nickel during their first 160 hours of employment in occupations in which they have no previous similar or related experience.
Hospital or integrated health system with 10,000 or more full-time employees (including skilled nursing facilities operated by these employers) | 10/16/24 to 6/30/25: $23 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $24 7/1/26 to 12/31/27: $25 … Dialysis Clinics | 10/16/24 to 6/30/25: $23 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $24 7/1/26 to 12/31/27: $25 … Safety Net Hospitals ( see FAQ 14 ) | 10/16/24 to 6/30/25: $18 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $18.63 7/1/26 to 6/30/27: $19.28 7/1/27 to 6/30/28: $19.95 … Intermittent clinics, community clinics, rural health clinics, or urgent care clinics associated with community or rural health clinics | 10/16/24 to 6/30/26: $21 7/1/26 to 6/30/27: $22 7/1/27 to 12/31/28: $25 … All other covered health care facilities not listed in the other categories and not run by Counties | 10/16/24 to 6/30/26: $21 7/1/26 to 6/30/28: $23 … Covered Health Care Facilities run by Large Counties (more than five million people as of 1/1/23) | 1/1/25 to 6/30/25: $23 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $24 7/1/26 to 12/31/27: $25 … Covered Health Care Facilities run by Medium Sized Counties (250,000 to five million people as of 1/1/23) | 1/1/25 to 6/30/26: $21 7/1/26 to 6/30/28: $23 … Covered Health Care Facilities run by Small Counties (less than 250,000 people as of 1/1/23) | 1/1/25 to 6/30/25: $18 7/1/25 to 6/30/26: $18.63 7/1/26 to 6/30/27: $19.28 7/1/27 to 6/30/28: $19.95
minimum_wage in us-ca: version 6, effective 2027-01-01, published (amendment); replaces version 5
The minimum wage is 17.4 USD per hour for most California workers. learners: 85% of the general rate. outside salespersons: excluded from the minimum wage. individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer: excluded from the minimum wage. apprentices: excluded from the minimum wage.
5in effect
to
correction
minimum_wage in us-ca: version 5, effective 2026-07-01, published (correction); replaces version 4
The minimum wage is 16.9 USD per hour for all employers, not otherwise covered by a higher minimum wage specific to an industry or a locality. learners: 85% of the general rate. outside salespersons: excluded from the minimum wage. individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer: excluded from the minimum wage. apprentices: excluded from the minimum wage.
4superseded
amendment
minimum_wage in us-ca: version 4, effective 2026-07-01, published (amendment); replaces version 2
The minimum wage is 16.9 USD per hour for all employers, not otherwise covered by a higher minimum wage specific to an industry or a locality. outside salespersons: excluded from the minimum wage. parent, spouse, or child of the employer: excluded from the minimum wage. apprentices: excluded from the minimum wage. learners: 85% of the general rate.
2
to
new
minimum_wage in us-ca: version 2, effective 2026-01-01, published (new)
The minimum wage is 16.9 USD per hour for all employers, not otherwise covered by a higher minimum wage specific to an industry or a locality. outside salespersons: 16.9 USD per hour. parent, spouse, or child of the employer: 16.9 USD per hour. apprentices: 16.9 USD per hour.