The minimum wage is $8.00 per hour for most employees in California, with exceptions for tipped employees, some student workers, and other exempt occupations.^[1]

In his 2013 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama called on Congress to raise the Federal Minimum Wage to $9.00 per hour. If this new law is passed, all California employees will be entitled to earn the new national Minimum Wage of $9.00 per hour.

California has one of the highest state minimum wage rates, and the San Francisco minimum wage of $10.24 per hour is the highest minimum wage in the United States. Unlike many other states, tipped employees in California are also entitled to the full minimum wage of $8.00 per hour.

As of January 1st, 2012, the San Francisco minimum wage was raised to $10.24 per hour - the first city in the United States to have a minimum wage over $10.00 per hour. California labor law questions can be directed to the toll-free Minimum Wage Hotline at 1-888-ASK-WAGE. California's minimum wage was last raised in 2008.

California's minimum wage does not apply to outside salespeople, or employees who are in the immediate family of their employer. Student workers may be paid as little as 85% of the minimum wage (rounded to the nearest nickel) for their first 160 hours of work.

Additional exemptions exist for disabled employees and workers at nonprofits where the employer has obtained a certificate from the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

California employers may not pay you under $8.00 per hour unless you or your occupation are specifically exempt from the minimum wage under state or federal law.

All California employers must display an approved California minimum wage poster in a prominent place to inform employees about the minimum wage and their worker's rights under California labor law.

If you have questions about the California minimum wage, please ask us and someone will respond to you as soon as possible. Looking for a new job? Use the free California job search utility to find local job openings hiring now.

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Professional California Labor Law Posters - Updated for 2013

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and California labor law requires all employers in California to visibly display an approved California minimum wage poster, and other California and federal labor law posters, to ensure that all employees are aware of federal and California labor law and overtime regulations. Failure to display a California labor law poster in the workplace can result in severe fines.

2013 California State and Federal All-In-One Labor Law Poster

Updated for 2013 - 24x36 heavy laminated California all-in-one labor law compliance poster including California minimum wage law and all mandatory workplace notices for full FLSA compliance.

$19.99

For a 5% discount, use coupon update2013 at checkout

The California minimum wage poster, and additional required California labor law posters, are also available on the California labor law posters download page. Posters provided by Compliance Assistance.

In addition to any California-specific minimum wage exemptions described above, the Federal Fair Labor Standards act defines special minimum wage rates applicable to certain types of workers. You may be paid under the California minimum wage if you fit into one of the following categories:

• California Under 20 Minimum Wage - $4.25 - Federal law allows any employer in California to pay a new employee who is under 20 years of age a training wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment.
• California Student Minimum Wage - $6.80 - Full-time high school or college students who work part-time may be paid 85% of the California minimum wage (as little as $6.80 per hour) for up to 20 hours of work at certain employers.
• California Tipped Minimum Wage - $8.00 - Employees who earn a certain amount of tips every month may be paid a special cash minimum wage, but must earn at least $8.00 including tips every hour. For more details, read about the California tipped wage.

What is minimum wage in California?

The current California minimum wage of $8.00 per hour is the lowest amount a non-exempt employee in California can legally be paid for hourly work. Special minimum wage rates, such as the "California waitress minimum wage" for tipped employees, may apply to certain workers.^[1]

How much will I earn working a minimum wage job in California?

A full time minimum wage worker in California working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, will earn $64.00 per day, $320.00 per week, and $16,640.00 per year¹. The national poverty line for a family unit consisting of two people is $14,570 per year.

What is the California under 18 minimum wage?

California employers may pay 18 year olds and minors the youth minimum wage of $4.25 for the first 90 days of employment. Other labor law exemptions for minors in California may exist.

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¹ These estimates do not account for the California income tax , federal income tax, or local/municipal income taxes.