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In 1981, the California minimum wage was $3.35 per hour. As of March 2024, it is now at least $16 per hour and, in some Los Angeles County locations, even higher. Today, however, it would take $11.67 to purchase what could have been purchased with the minimum hourly pay 43 years ago, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator. This means that current minimum wage rates in Los Angeles County have finally pushed past inflation in value. However, before we celebrate, it should be noted that, even with a $17 per hour full-time job, current fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles County would consume more than two-thirds of pre-tax income.


Supporters of a California ballot iniative to increase the statewide minimum wage to $18 per hour submitted enough voter signatures to place the initiative on the November 2024 ballot. If voters pass the iniative - and the chances are good that will happen - it would raise the minimum wage in California to $18 per hour by 2026. The minimum wage would subsequently change, based upon changes in the U.S. Consumer Price Index. Each California incorporated city may, by local ordinance, set higher minimums.



All of California (Except Directed Below)

The following table applies to everywhere in Los Angeles County, except in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Malibu, Pasadena, Santa Monica, West Hollywood and unincorporated areas of the county, where wage rates may be higher. The State of California mimimum wage applies to all locations that have not enacted a higher mimimum wage ordinance of their own. Although the state minumum wage also applies to most workers in Downey and Inglewood, these cities, along with Long Beach, enacted new minimum wage ordinances specifically for health care workers in their cities. Voters in both Los Angeles and Monterey Park will also have an opportunity to raise minimum wages for health care workers in 2024.

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Employers with 25 Employees or Less Employers with 26+ Employees
Jan. 1, 2018 $10.50 $11.00
Jan. 1, 2019 $11.00 $12.00
Jan. 1, 2020 $12.00 $13.00
Jan. 1, 2021 $13.00 $14.00
Jan. 1, 2022 $14.00 $15.00
Jan. 1, 2023 $15.50 $15.50
Jan. 1, 2024 $16.00 $16.00

All of California (Fast Food Restaurants*)

The following table applies to everywhere in Los Angeles County. State law does not allow local governments to mandate higher minimum wages specifically for fast food restaurants. They may, however, mandate higher minimum wages for all employers within their respective jurisdictions.

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Fast Food Restaurant Employers
Apr. 1, 2024 $20.00

* Defined as offering limited or no table service where customers pay for food or beverage items before consumption and; part of a restaurant chain of at least 60 eating establishments nationwide and; primarily engaged in selling food and beverages for immediate consumption.


Source: State of California Dept. of Industrial Relations


All of California (Health Care Facilities)

See Minimum Wage Rates - Health Care Facilities

Unincorporated Areas in Los Angeles County

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Employers with 25 Employees or Less Employers with 26+ Employees
July 1, 2018 $12.00 $13.25
July 1, 2019 $13.25 $14.25
July 1, 2020 $14.25 $15.00
July 1, 2021 $15.00 $15.00
July 1, 2022 $15.96 $15.96
July 1, 2023 $16.90 $16.90
July 1, 2024 $17.27 $17.27

Source: County of Los Angeles

City of Inglewood (Health Care Workers)

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Health Care Workers
January 1, 2023 $25.00

† All private sector health care workers in hospitals, integrated health systems, and dialysis clinics.

City of Long Beach (Hotel Workers)

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Health Care Workers
July 1, 2018 $14.64
July 1, 2019 $14.97
July 1, 2020 $15.47
July 1, 2021 $15.69
July 1, 2022 $16.73
July 1, 2023 $17.55

City of Long Beach (Concessionaire Workers)

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Concession Employers
July 1, 2018 $14.37
July 1, 2019 $14.72
July 1, 2020 $15.30
July 1, 2021 $15.32
July 1, 2022 $16.55
July 1, 2023 $17.36

City of Long Beach (Health Care Workers)

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Health Care Workers
September 26, 2022 $25.00

Source: City of Long Beach

City of Los Angeles (Except LAX & Specified Hotel Workers)

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Employers with 25 Employees or Less (or Non-profits with 26+ Employees & Approval to Pay a Deferred Rate) Employers with 26+ Employees
July 1, 2018 $12.00 $13.35
July 1, 2019 $13.25 $14.25
July 1, 2020 $14.25 $15.00
July 1, 2021 $15.00 $15.00
July 1, 2022 $16.04 $16.04
July 1, 2023 $16.78 $16.78
July 1, 2024 $17.28 $17.28

City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport Workers)

Minimum wage rates are per hour. If no health benefit is paid, health benefit is added to wage.

Effective Date Wage Health Benefit
July 1, 2018 $13.75 $5.24
July 1, 2019 $15.25 $5.34
July 1, 2020 $16.50 $5.55
July 1, 2021 $17.00 $5.67
July 1, 2022 $18.04 $5.77
July 1, 2023 $18.78 $5.95

City of Los Angeles (Hotel Workers)

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date & Applicable Hotels Hotel Workers
July 1, 2018 (Hotels of 150+ rooms) $16.10
July 1, 2019 (Hotels of 150+ rooms) $16.63
July 1, 2020 (Hotels of 150+ rooms) $17.13
July 1, 2021 (Hotels of 150+ rooms) $17.64
July 1, 2022 (Hotels of 150+ rooms) $18.86
August 12, 2022 (Hotels of 60+ rooms) $18.86
July 1, 2023 (Hotels of 60+ rooms) $19.73
July 1, 2024 (Hotels of 60+ rooms) $20.32

City of Los Angeles (Health Care Workers)

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Health Care Workers
Pending referendum outcome, expected in 2024 $25.00

Source: City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles World Airports

City of Malibu

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Employers with 25 Employees or Less Employers with 26+ Employees
July 1, 2018 $12.00 $13.25
July 1, 2019 $13.35 $14.25
July 1, 2020 $14.25 $15.00
July 1, 2021 $15.00 $15.00
July 1, 2022 $15.96 $15.96
July 1, 2023 $16.90 $16.90
July 1, 2024 $17.27 $17.27

Source: City of Malibu


City of Pasadena

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Employers with 25 Employees or Less Employers with 26+ Employees
July 1, 2018 $12.00 $13.35
July 1, 2019 $13.35 $14.25
July 1, 2020 $14.25 $15.00
July 1, 2021 $15.00 $15.00
July 1, 2022 $16.11 $16.11
July 1, 2023 $16.93 $16.93

Source: City of Pasadena

City of Santa Monica

Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Employers with 25 Employees or Less Employers with 26+ Employees All Hotels
July 1, 2018 $12.00 $13.25 $16.10
July 1, 2019 $13.25 $14.25 $16.63
July 1, 2020 $14.25 $15.00 $17.13
July 1, 2021 $15.00 $15.00 $17.64
July 1, 2022 $15.96 $15.96 $18.17
July 1, 2023 $16.90 $16.90 $19.73
July 1, 2024 $17.27 $17.27 $20.32

Source: City of Santa Monica

City of West Hollywood

West Hollywood followed State of California minimum wage guidelines through 2021.
Minimum wage rates are per hour.

Effective Date Hotel Employerss Employers with 49 Employees or Less Employers with 50+ Employees
December 31, 2021 $14.00 $13.00 $14.00
January 1, 2022 $17.64 $15.00 $15.50
July 1, 2022 $18.35 $16.00 $16.50
January 1, 2023 $18.35 $17.00 $17.50
July 1, 2023 $19.08 $19.08 $19.08
July 1, 2024 $19.08 $19.08 $19.08

‡ Annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases hereafter shifted from July 1 to January 1. Next update on January 1, 2025.

Source: City of West Hollywood