Long Beach Worker Protections (2026)
Local pay and leave rules for people who work in Long Beach, California, with the official city source for each — plus the state rules that still apply.
Short answer: Covered Long Beach hotel workers must be paid at least $26.50 per hour from July 1, 2026, under Measure RW (approved by voters in March 2024), which raises the hotel worker wage in steps over five years. Long Beach Measure RW (hotel worker minimum wage); City Clerk bulletin effective July 1, 2026
| Local minimum wage | No local minimum wage for most workers — state rate applies ($16.90 per hour in 2026; $17.40 from January 1, 2027). Long Beach sets a separate minimum wage for hotel workers only (see below). |
|---|---|
| California state minimum wage | $16.90 per hour for all employers, effective January 1, 2026. Higher minimum wages apply to fast food workers and certain health care workers, and many cities and counties have their own higher local minimum wage; employers must pay whichever rate is highest. Scheduled increase: the statewide minimum wage rises to $17.40 per hour on January 1, 2027 (DIR News Release 2026-66: https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2026/2026-66.html). The rate is adjusted each year for inflation, capped at 3.5% per year, and cannot go down. |
| Hotel worker minimum wage | Covered Long Beach hotel workers must be paid at least $26.50 per hour from July 1, 2026, under Measure RW (approved by voters in March 2024), which raises the hotel worker wage in steps over five years. Hotel employers must give each hotel worker written notice of the rate change. |
California labor laws · Minimum wage by state · Overtime calculator
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.