The median pay of child care workers in Los Angeles County in 2018 was $13.00 per hour. Image courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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.
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.
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 |
| Jan. 1, 2025 | $16.50 | $16.50 |
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
See Minimum Wage Rates - Health Care Facilities
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
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 |
| July 1, 2024 | $23.00 |
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 |
| July 1, 2024 | $17.97 |
Source: City of Long Beach
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 |
| July 1, 2025 | $17.87 | $17.87 |
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 | July 1, 2024 | $19.28 | $5.95 |
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 |
| July 1, 2025 (Hotels of 60+ rooms) | $21.01* |
* Subject to any proposed policy amendment to the Citywide Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance in Council File 14-1371-S13, if adopted by City Council.
Source: City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles World Airports
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
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 |
| July 1, 2024 | $17.50 | $17.50 |
Source: City of Pasadena
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
West Hollywood followed State of California minimum wage guidelines through 2021.
Minimum wage rates are per hour.
| Effective Date | Hotel Employers | 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 |
| January 1, 2025 | $19.61 | $19.65 | $19.65 |
| July 1, 2025 | $20.22 | $19.65 | $19.65 |
Source: City of West Hollywood
