Los Angeles Minimum Wage 2026
The minimum wage in Los Angeles, CA is $17.87/hr ($1.37 above the $16.50 California state minimum). City of Los Angeles rate. Unincorporated LA County uses a separate ordinance. Hotel and healthcare workers have higher industry-specific minimums.
Scheduled increase: $18.30/hr effective 2026-07-01.
Los Angeles vs. California vs. federal
Los Angeles sets a higher floor than California law ($16.50/hr statewide) and well above the federal minimum of $7.25/hr. When city, state, and federal minimums differ, employers must pay the highest rate for hours worked inside Los Angeles city limits. Workers earning at the Los Angeles minimum make $10.62 more per hour than the federal floor.
What this means for hiring in Los Angeles
A higher local wage means every hour of a bad hire costs more. The cost of replacing an hourly worker typically runs 30% of first-year wages, and in Los Angeles that number sits well above what it would be elsewhere in California. That's why employers here are moving away from resume-only screening toward seeing real proof of skill before they bring someone on.
On Vetano, every candidate in Los Angeles is ID-verified and shows their skills on video before you ever see their profile, so you spend your Los Angeles minimum-wage hours on people who can actually do the job.
FAQ
What is the minimum wage in Los Angeles?+
$17.87 per hour as of 2026-07-26. City of Los Angeles rate. Unincorporated LA County uses a separate ordinance. Hotel and healthcare workers have higher industry-specific minimums.
Is Los Angeles's minimum wage higher than California's state minimum?+
Yes. Los Angeles requires $17.87/hr, compared to $16.50/hr statewide. The higher rate applies to work performed within city limits.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Los Angeles?+
Los Angeles requires the full local minimum for tipped workers, before tips.
Is Los Angeles's minimum wage going up?+
Yes, increasing to $18.30 on 2026-07-01.
Hiring hourly workers in Los Angeles?
Post a job on Vetano and reach ID-verified candidates in Los Angeles who show their skills on video. First 30 days free.
Free for talent to get hired. Talent Pro ($79/mo) is optional for gig work, and Vetano never takes a cut of what workers earn.
Other city minimum wages
Cities where the local minimum exceeds the state rate. Also see the full state wage index.