Effective January 1, 2023, California’s minimum wage rate increased to $15.50 per hour (from $15.00) for employers with 26 or more employees and $15.50 per hour (from $14.00) for employers with 25 or fewer employees. Thus, all employers, regardless of size, must pay a minimum wage of at least $15.50 beginning January 1st. Minimum wage adjustments for 2024 and beyond will be made in relation to inflation, as required by California Labor Code section 1182.12, and determined by August 1st of each year.
In California, many cities and counties are increasing their minimum wages faster than the state. Below is a chart of increases set to take place in 2023.
| 2023 Minimum Wage Increases | |||
| Jurisdiction | Effective Date of Increase | 2022 Minimum Wage | 2023 Minimum Wage |
| Alameda | July 1, 2023 | $15.75 | $15.75 + CPI |
| Belmont | January 1, 2023 | $16.20 | $16.75 |
| Berkeley | July 1, 2023 | $16.99 | $16.99 + CPI |
| Burlingame | January 1, 2023 | $15.60 | $16.47 |
| Cupertino | January 1, 2023 | $16.40 | $17.20 |
| Daly City | January 1, 2023 | $15.53 | $16.07 |
| East Palo Alto | January 1, 2023 | $15.60 | $16.50 |
| El Cerrito | January 1, 2023 | $16.37 | $17.35 |
| Emeryville | July 1, 2023 | $17.68 | $17.68 + CPI |
| Foster City | January 1, 2023 | $15.75 | $16.50 |
| Fremont | July 1, 2023 | $16.00 | $16.00 + CPI |
| Half Moon Bay | January 1, 2023 | $15.56 | $16.45 |
| Hayward | January 1, 2023 |
$15.56 (26 or more employees)
$14.52 (25 or fewer employees) |
$16.34 (26 or more employees)
$15.50 (25 or fewer employees) |
| Los Altos | January 1, 2023 | $16.40 | $17.20 |
| Los Angeles (City) | July 1, 2023 | $16.04 | $16.04 + CPI |
| Los Angeles County | July 1, 2023 | $15.96 | $15.96 + CPI |
| Malibu | July 1, 2023 | $15.96 | $15.96 + CPI |
| Milpitas | July 1, 2023 | $16.40 | $16.40 + CPI |
| Menlo Park | January 1, 2023 | $15.75 | $16.20 |
| Mountain View | January 1, 2023 | $17.10 | $18.15 |
| Novato | January 1, 2023 |
$15.77 (100 or more employees)
$15.53 (26-99 employees)
$15.00 (1-25 employees) |
$16.32 (100 or more employees)
$16.07 (26-99 employees)
$15.53 (1-25 employees) |
| Oakland | January 1, 2023 | $15.06 | $15.97 |
| Palo Alto | January 1, 2023 | $16.45 | $17.25 |
| Pasadena | July 1, 2023 | $16.11 | $16.11 + CPI |
| Petaluma | January 1, 2023 | $15.85 | $17.06 |
| Redwood City | January 1, 2023 | $16.20 | $17.00 |
| Richmond | January 1, 2023 | $15.54 | $16.17 |
| San Carlos | January 1, 2023 | $15.77 | $16.32 |
| San Diego | January 1, 2023 | $15.00 | $16.30 |
| San Francisco | July 1, 2023 | $16.99 | $16.99 + CPI |
| San Jose | January 1, 2023 | $16.20 | $17.00 |
| San Mateo | January 1, 2023 | $16.20 | $16.75 |
| Santa Clara | January 1, 2023 | $16.40 | $17.20 |
| Santa Monica | July 1, 2023 | $15.96 | $15.96 + CPI |
| Santa Rosa | January 1, 2023 | $15.85 | $17.06 |
| Sonoma | January 1, 2023 |
$16.00 (26 or more employees)
$15.00 (25 or fewer employees) |
$17.00 (26 or more employees, including those working outside of the city)
$16.00 (25 or fewer employees) |
| South San Francisco | January 1, 2023 | $15.80 | $16.70 |
| Sunnyvale | January 1, 2023 | $17.10 | $17.95 |
| West Hollywood | January 1, 2023 |
$16.50 (50 or more employees)
$16.00 (49 or fewer employees) |
$17.50 (50 or more employees)
$17.00 (49 or fewer employees) |
Also note that effective January 1, 2023, the minimum salary threshold for exempt executive, administrative, and professional employees will increase to $64,480 per year. Further, the minimum rate of pay applicable to computer professionals will increase to $53.80 per hour/$9,338.78 per month/$112,065.20 per year and the minimum hourly rate of pay for licensed physicians and surgeons will increase to $97.99.