Minimum Wage Increases for 2026

Starting on January 1, 2026, there are new minimum wage rates going into effect, including updated mandatory posting and wage-setting requirements. Here in California, the statewide minimum wage will increase to $16.90 per hour, and several municipalities and counties have announced their local rate changes for 2026, while others that typically make annual adjustments have not yet announced their rates. Below is a non-exhaustive list of hourly minimum wage rates effective January 1, 2026. Please note that there are also various considerations for each ordinance issued by each city or county where the employee works, we recommend that you review all employee wages and consider the coverage and eligibility of all employees including those working remotely, hybrid, or in different locations.

California Local Jurisdiction / Hourly Minimum Wage Rates

(Effective January 1, 2026)

Local Jurisdiction	Hourly Minimum Wage Rate
Belmont, CA	$18.95
Burlingame, CA	$17.86
Cupertino, CA	TBD
Daly City, CA	TBD
East Palo Alto, CA	$17.90
El Cerrito, CA	$18.82
Foster City, CA	$17.85
Half Moon Bay, CA	$17.91
Hayward, CA	$17.79 (26 or more employees) / $16.90 (25 or fewer)
Los Altos, CA	$18.70
Menlo Park, CA	$17.55
Mountain View, CA	$19.70
Novato, CA	$17.73 (100 or more employees) / $17.46 (26 – 99 employees) / $16.90 (25 or fewer)
Oakland, CA	TBD
Palo Alto, CA	$18.70
Petaluma, CA	$18.31
Redwood City, CA	$18.65
Richmond, CA	$19.18 (employer pays less than $1.50/hr toward medical benefits) / $17.68 (employer pays at least $1.50/hr toward medical benefits)
San Carlos, CA	$17.75
San Diego, CA	$17.75
San Jose, CA	$18.45
San Mateo, CA	$18.60
San Mateo County (Unincorporated areas only), CA	$17.95
Santa Clara, CA	$18.70
Santa Rosa, CA	$18.21
Sonoma, CA	TBD
South San Francisco, CA	$18.15
Sunnyvale, CA	$19.50
West Hollywood, CA	$20.25 (non-hotel workers)

Some other states also have scheduled increases effective January 1, 2026.  These include: Alaska; Arizona; Colorado; Connecticut; Hawaii; Maine; Michigan; Missouri; Nebraska; New Jersey; New York; Ohio; Rhode Island; Vermont; Washington. Please reach out to an Attwood Gregg attorney if you are interested in learning more about minimum wage increases for any of these states.  (Please note: this list is not exhaustive and employers should review all state and local obligations.)

In addition, please remember that remote workers must receive electronic access to required workplace postings (including minimum wage notices) when they perform work in jurisdictions with higher rates. Employers should evaluate whether any employee’s remote or hybrid location triggers a higher local minimum wage.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss ensuring you are in compliance with these updates, please reach out to an Attwood Gregg attorney.