Mid-year minimum wage increases

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While California’s statewide minimum wage rate ($16.50) went into effect January 1, 2025, July will bring a new round of both local and industry-specific minimum wage increases. Employers should be cognizant of these increases, review applicable minimum wage standards for their employees, and ensure that the correct rate is being applied. These mid-year increases include:

The minimum wage for workers in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County is currently $17.27 per hour but will increase to $17.81 per hour as of July 1, 2024; the City of Los Angeles will increase from $17.28 to $17.87 per hour.

Santa Monica's minimum wage, currently at $17.27 per hour and will increase to $17.81 per hour effective July 1, 2025. Like many other localities, this amount increases annually according to the published Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Works (CPI-W) for the Los Angeles metropolitan area (LA-Riverside-Orange County, CA) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Santa Monica posts the new rates annually on or near January 1st.

Pasadena’s minimum wage rates will also see an increase on July1, 2025, from $17.70 per hour to $18.04.

In the city of West Hollywood, the citywide minimum wage for non-hotel employees has been $19.65 since January 1, 2025, and will remain in effect until December 31, 2025. But, on July 1, 2025, the minimum wage rate for hotel (and airport) employees will increase from $19.61 per hour to $20.22, and remain in effect until June 30, 2026. The wage for hotels and businesses operating on actual hotel property will increase from $20.32 per hour to $21.01 per hour effective on July 1, 2025. This rate aligns with the City of LA's Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Rate. Important to note however, the City of Los Angeles City Council recently voted to approve a proposal requiring an increase to a $22.50 minimum wage for hotel workers effective July 1, 2025, subject to a final vote by the City Council and mayor. If the ordinance becomes effective, the City of Santa Monica’s hotel worker living wage will also increase to $22.50 per hour effective July 1, 2025 (or whenever the ordinance becomes effective.) And, the measure mandates an increase over that amount of $2.50 over the next three years.

On July 1, 2025, the San Francisco Minimum Wage will also increase to $19.90. The "Government Supported Employees" minimum wage rate will increase to $16.97. This increase is based on Article 1.4 of the San Francisco Labor and Employment Code.

Also on July 1, 2025, the local minimum wage increases to $17.75 per hour from $17.30 in the city of Freemont while Emeryville will increase from $19.36 to $19.90.