San Jose Minimum Wage (2026)

Local pay and leave rules for people who work in San Jose, California, with the official city source for each — plus the state rules that still apply.

Short answer: $18.45 per hour for 2026 (January 1 to December 31, 2026). Scheduled increase: $19.00 per hour on January 1, 2027. San Jose Minimum Wage Ordinance

Local minimum wage	$18.45 per hour for 2026 (January 1 to December 31, 2026). Scheduled increase: $19.00 per hour on January 1, 2027. Applies to employees who work at least 2 hours per week in San Jose for an employer with a facility in the city or subject to the city business tax. The rate is adjusted each January 1 for inflation. Source: San Jose Minimum Wage Ordinance
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. Source: California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage FAQ

Local minimum wage

$18.45 per hour for 2026 (January 1 to December 31, 2026). Scheduled increase: $19.00 per hour on January 1, 2027. Applies to employees who work at least 2 hours per week in San Jose for an employer with a facility in the city or subject to the city business tax. The rate is adjusted each January 1 for inflation.

Source: San Jose Minimum Wage Ordinance

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.

Source: California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage FAQ

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.