California Minimum Wage 2026
The minimum wage in California is $16.50/hr ($9.25 above the $7.25 federal minimum). Fast-food workers $20.00. Healthcare workers $18–$25 depending on facility.
What this means for hiring in California
The California minimum wage sets the floor for what you can legally pay hourly workers, but the real cost of hiring goes well past base pay. The cost of a bad hire (turnover, lost productivity, training a replacement) typically runs 30% of first-year wages. That's why employers are moving away from resume-only screening toward seeing real proof of skill before they bring someone on.
On Vetano, every candidate in California is ID-verified and shows their skills on video before you ever see their profile, so you spend your minimum-wage hours on people who can actually do the job.
Federal vs. California
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr. California has set a higher floor at $16.50/hr, when state and federal minimums differ, the higher one applies.
FAQ
What is the minimum wage in California?+
$16.50 per hour as of 2026-05-15. Fast-food workers $20.00. Healthcare workers $18–$25 depending on facility.
What is the tipped minimum wage in California?+
California requires the full state minimum for tipped workers.
Is California's minimum wage going up?+
No scheduled increases at this time.
Minimum wage in every state
Browse 2026 rates for all 50 states + DC, or see the full wage index.