In addition to meeting the state’s minimum wage requirements ($10.50/hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees, and $11.00/hour for employers with more than 25 employees), California employers must also comply with any local minimum wage Ordinances in effect. Beginning July 1, 2018, the minimum wage is scheduled to increase in several California cities, including: Belmont, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Long Beach, the City of Los Angeles, the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, Malibu, Milpitas, Pasadena, Richmond, San Francisco, San Leandro, and Santa Monica. In addition, numerous other California cities already have heightened minimum wage rates in place. Current local minimum wage rates include:
| City | Minimum Wage | Effective Date |
| Belmont | $12.50/hour | July 1, 2018 |
| Berkeley | $13.75/hour currently, increasing to $15.00/hour | October 1, 2018 |
| Cupertino | $13.50/hour | January 1, 2018 |
| El Cerrito | $13.60/hour | July 1, 2018 |
| Emeryville | $15.00/hour (55 or fewer employees)
$15.69/hour (56 or more employees) |
July 1, 2018 |
| Long Beach | $14.64/hour | July 1, 2018 |
| Los Altos | $13.50/hour | January 1, 2018 |
| Los Angeles (City) | $12.00/hour (25 or fewer employees)
$13.25/hour (26 or more employees) |
July 1, 2018 |
| Los Angeles County (Unincorporated areas only) | $12.00/hour (25 or fewer employees)
$13.25/hour (26 or more employees) |
July 1, 2018 |
| Malibu | $12.00/hour (25 or fewer employees)
$13.25/hour (26 or more employees) |
July 1, 2018 |
| Milpitas | $13.50/hour | July 1, 2018 |
| Mountain View | $15.00/hour | January 1, 2018 |
| Oakland | $13.23/hour | January 1, 2018 |
| Palo Alto | $13.50/hour | January 1, 2018 |
| Pasadena | $12.00/hour (25 or fewer employees)
$13.25/hour (26 or more employees) |
July 1, 2018 |
| Richmond | $11.91/hour (if benefits received)
$13.41/hour (if no benefits paid) |
July 1, 2018 |
| San Diego | $11.50/hour | January 1, 2017 |
| San Francisco | $15.00/hour | July 1, 2018 |
| San Jose | $13.50/hour | January 1, 2018 |
| San Leandro | $13.00/hour | July 1, 2018 |
| San Mateo | $13.00/hour (for profit companies)
$12.00/hour (non-profit companies) |
January 1, 2018 |
| Santa Clara | $13.00/hour | January 1, 2018 |
| Santa Monica | $12.00/hour (25 or fewer employees)
$13.25/hour (26 or more employees) |
July 1, 2018 |
| Sunnyvale | $15.00/hour | January 1, 2018 |
The information contained in this alert is not intended to and does not constitute legal advice. Employers should consult with counsel to determine if they are in compliance with all applicable minimum wage rates.