California Just Raised Wages — See Which Cities Are Paying Over $19 an Hour!

If you live or work in California, there’s a decent chance your paycheck just got a little bigger. As of January 1, 2025, the state raised its minimum wage from $16.00 to $16.50 an hour. It’s a modest bump, but it’s part of the state’s effort to keep wages in step with inflation.

But here’s the real story: depending on where you are in California, you might be earning a whole lot more. That’s because several cities across the state have their own minimum wage laws—and many of them are setting rates well above the state level.

Where Are Workers Earning the Most?

Some cities are really stepping up to make sure local workers are paid enough to keep up with the cost of living. Here’s a look at a few places leading the pack in 2025:

• West Hollywood: $19.65/hour

• Emeryville: $19.36/hour

• Mountain View: $19.20/hour

• Sunnyvale: $19.00/hour

• San Francisco: $18.67/hour

• Berkeley: $18.67/hour

• El Cerrito: $18.34/hour

• Belmont: $18.30/hour

• Cupertino: $18.20/hour

• Palo Alto: $18.20/hour

• Santa Clara: $18.20/hour

These higher local wages reflect how expensive it is to live in many California cities, especially in the Bay Area. Local governments are trying to make sure that folks earning minimum wage aren’t left behind.

Not Just Cities—Some Industries Got Raises Too

It’s not just about where you work. For certain jobs, California has introduced even higher minimum wages to better reflect the demands of the work and the rising cost of living.

Fast food workers across the state saw a big change in April 2024. Their minimum wage is now $20 an hour. This was a major win for workers in the fast food industry, especially after years of pressure from labor advocates.

Healthcare workers also got a pay boost starting in October 2024. Depending on the kind of facility they work in, their minimum wage ranges from $18 to $23 per hour. And over the next few years, those rates will keep climbing until they reach $25 an hour in most cases.

What Employers Should Know

If you’re an employer in California, here’s the key rule: you have to follow the highest minimum wage that applies to your workers. That might be the state rate, the city rate, or a special industry rate. Whatever’s higher, that’s what you need to pay.

You also have to make sure your workplace displays the most up-to-date wage posters where everyone can see them. And if you have remote workers, you’re expected to provide them with the same information, even if they’re not in the office.

Why This Matters

These wage increases reflect something that’s been clear for a while—living in California is expensive, and it’s not getting any cheaper. Whether you’re paying rent in San Francisco or buying groceries in Los Angeles, $16.50 an hour just doesn’t stretch that far in many places.

Cities are stepping in where the state base rate might fall short, and certain industries are getting the recognition they deserve. It’s not perfect, but it’s a step toward fairer pay and better conditions for millions of Californians.

Whether you’re an employee wondering if your next paycheck will be a little bigger, or an employer trying to keep up with all the changes, this is something worth paying attention to.