Los Angeles Minimum Wage (2026)
Local pay and leave rules for people who work in Los Angeles, California, with the official city source for each — plus the state rules that still apply.
Short answer: $18.42 per hour for all employers, effective July 1, 2026 (up from $17.87). The rate is adjusted every July 1 based on the Los Angeles-area Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). City of Los Angeles Minimum Wage Ordinance; Office of Wage Standards rate memo, Jan. 30, 2026
| Local minimum wage | $18.42 per hour for all employers, effective July 1, 2026 (up from $17.87). The rate is adjusted every July 1 based on the Los Angeles-area Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). This is higher than the California rate of $16.90 (2026), which rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027; employers must pay whichever rate is higher. |
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| 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. |
| Paid sick leave (local law) | Employers must provide at least 48 hours of paid sick leave per year, either front-loaded or accrued at 1 hour per 30 hours worked. Unused leave carries over (carryover may be capped at no less than 72 hours), and annual use may be limited to 48 hours. Employees may use leave starting on their 90th day of employment. Employers may require documentation only after more than 3 consecutive days of sick leave. |
| Hotel worker minimum wage | Covered hotels in the City of Los Angeles must pay hotel workers at least $25.00 per hour from July 1, 2026, under the Citywide Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance. The ordinance also requires a separate health benefit payment. |
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.