California Labor & Employment Law
1-888-924-3435
California Labor & Employment Law
1-888-924-3435

California Minimum Wage Law

What is California Minimum Wage Law?

California’s Minimum Wage Law is governed by both state and federal regulations, with the state’s laws often setting a higher standard than the federal minimum wage.

Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

Current Minimum Wage: As of the last update, California’s minimum wage is $16.50 per hour for all employers, regardless of the size of the business. This rate is subject to annual increases based on inflation, as set by the state’s Department of Finance. However, specific industries have a higher rate than the state’s minimum wage.

Increases Over Time: California has been incrementally increasing its minimum wage each year. The increases are based on:

  • Legislative Action: Previously, legislation set specific increases until a particular year, after which adjustments are made based on inflation.
  • Inflation Adjustments: Each year, the Department of Finance evaluates the inflation rate to determine if an increase is necessary. If inflation has increased, so does the minimum wage.
 

Exemptions and Special Cases:

  • Tipped Employees: Unlike some states, California does not have a separate, lower minimum wage for tipped employees. All workers must be paid at least the full minimum wage before tips.
  • Youth Wage: There is no lower minimum wage for younger workers in California; regardless of age, all employees are entitled to the full minimum wage.
  • Learners and Trainees: While some states allow for a training wage, California does not have a special provision for learners or trainees except in very specific, regulated apprenticeships.
  • Local Ordinances: Several cities and counties within California have set their own higher minimum wages. For example, places like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Berkeley have minimum wages that exceed the state’s rate. Employers within these jurisdictions must comply with the local rate if it’s higher than the state rate.
 
Enforcement: The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) within the California Department of Industrial Relations enforces minimum wage laws. Workers can file complaints if they believe they are not being paid the minimum wage.
 
Additional Provisions:
 
  • Overtime: California law requires overtime pay for hours worked over 8 in a day or 40 in a week at 1.5 times the regular rate, with double time for over 12 hours in a day.
  • Meal and Rest Breaks: Employers must provide meal and rest breaks, which are additional labor standards intertwined with wage laws.

Future Increases:

The state law includes provisions for automatic increases based on inflation unless legislation changes this mechanism.
 
Keep in mind that these details might be subject to change with new legislation or updates in policy.
If you need the most current figures or if you’re looking into how these laws apply to a specific case or locality within California, it might be wise to check with official state resources or consult with a labor law specialist.
 
If you have any questions or if you have experienced a California minimum wage violation, call us at
1-888-924-3435 or fill out the form.

Our Calculators

Minimum Wage Calculator

Use this calculator to find the current minimum wage in any city in California.

Overtime Calculator

Use this calculator to find out how much overtime is owed according to California state law.

Meal / Rest Break Calculator

Has an employer been denying you rest breaks and meal breaks? They may owe you money. Find out how much.

Waiting Time Penalty Calculator

If you have been terminated or quit your job in California, this calculator will tell you how much an employer owes for delaying your check.

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LawSmiths LLC
945 5th Ave SE #8
Hutchinson, Minnesota 55350

Email Address:
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Telephone number:
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Effective as of April 01, 2025

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Matching law firms with potential clients for personal injury cases.

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Contact Information

The Company welcomes your questions or comments regarding this Policy. If you believe that the Company has not adhered to this Policy, please contact the Company at:

LawSmiths LLC
945 5th Ave SE #8
Hutchinson, Minnesota 55350

Email Address:
[email protected]

Phone Number:
+1 (612) 868-9079

Effective as of April 19, 2025

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Updated 4/09/25

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