California State and Local Minimum Wage 2022
Updated March 3, 2022
The California minimum wage increased on January 1, 2022 – and many California local minimum wage rates will increase on July 1, 2022.
Here is everything you need to know.
California Minimum Wage 2022
Effective January 1, 2022 the California minimum wage is $14 per hour for employers with 25 employees or less.
For businesses with 26 or more employees, the California minimum wage is $15 per hour. [source]
Looking ahead, California employers can anticipate the following rate increases in 2023:
| Date | Large Employers (26+ Employees) | Small Employers (25 or fewer Employees) |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2022 | $15 | $14 |
| January 1, 2023 | Adjustment for inflation | $15 |
An employer with 26 or more employees at any time during a pay period should apply the higher minimum wage to all employees for that pay period. If an employer’s workforce falls below 26 employees the employer does not need to automatically lower their minimum wage rate.
However, if the minimum wage is reduced because the threshold falls below 26 employees, the employer must notify the affected employees in advance before reducing their wages.
Important to note, there are Minimum Salary Exemptions for California such as computer software professionals. To learn about any of these exemptions in California, or any state, please message us.
California Local Minimum Wage 2022
Local jurisdictions – Counties or Cities – may have their own minimum wage that may trump the State minimum wage. Employers must pay the rate that benefits the employee.
Los Angeles Minimum Wage Rate Effective July 1, 2022
Starting July 1st 2022, the minimum wage in Los Angeles will be $16.04 per hour. All Employers are required to pay the new minimum wage according to the Los Angeles Minimum Wage Ordinance. The minimum wage rate will be adjusted every year according to Los Angeles Minimum Wage Ordinance Section 187.02. Official notice can be found here.
Please check the tables below for more information on other local jurisdictions.
Effective Jan 1, 2022
| Jurisdiction | Large Employers (26+ Employees) | Small Employers (25 or fewer Employees) |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda [source] | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Berkeley [source] | $16.32 | $16.32 |
| Emeryville [source] | $17.13 + Consumer Price Index (CPI) | $17.13 + Consumer Price Index (CPI) |
| Fremont [source] | $15.25 | $15.00 |
| Los Angeles [source] (City & Unincorporated Areas of County) | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Malibu [source] | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Milpitas [source] | $15.65 | $15.65 |
| Novato [source] | $15.53 ($15.77 for Very Large Employers with 100+ Employees) | $15.00 |
| Pasadena [source] | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| San Francisco [source] | $16.32 | $16.32 |
| South San Francisco [source] | $15.80 | $15.80 |
| San Leandro [source] | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Santa Monica [source] | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Santa Rosa [source] | $15.85 | $15.85 |
Effective July 1, 2022
| Jurisdiction | Large Employers (26+ Employees) | Small Employers (25 or fewer Employees) |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda [source] | $15.00 + annual increase adjustment, not to exceed 5% | $15.00 + annual increase adjustment, not to exceed 5% |
| Berkeley [source] | $16.32 + Consumer Price Index (CPI) | $16.32 + Consumer Price Index (CPI) |
| Emeryville [source] | $17.13 + CPI | $17.13 + CPI |
| Fremont [source] | $15.25 + CPI | $15.25 + CPI |
| Los Angeles [source] (City & Unincorporated Areas of County) | $15.00 + CPI | $15.00 + CPI |
| Malibu [source] | $15.00 + CPI | $15.00 + CPI |
| Milpitas [source] | $15.65 + CPI | $15.65 + CPI |
| Novato [source] | $15.53 ($15.77 for Very Large Employers with 100+ Employees) | $15.00 |
| Pasadena [source] | $15.00 + CPI | $15.00 + CPI |
| San Francisco [source] | $16.32 + CPI | $16.32 + CPI |
| South San Francisco [source] | $15.80 | $15.80 |
| San Leandro [source] | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Santa Monica [source] | $15.00 + CPI | $15.00 + CPI |
| Santa Rosa [source] | $15.85 | $15.85 |
To keep your business up to date with the current Minimum Wage in your local jurisdiction or state, why not use our Labor Law Poster Service – you’ll be updated automatically with new Labor Law Posters based on your state, industry, and employee size.
Other States
We service small businesses, CPAs and accountants in most states and are constantly expanding. Please reach out to us for information about the minimum wage in your state.
Always double-check the minimum wage in your area, as governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), to verify this article has the most current information.
Things can change rapidly during a pandemic. We are here to help you through these changing regulations.
