Los Angeles minimum wage 2026, $18.42 an hour.

The current rate

The City of Los Angeles Office of Wage Standards lists a minimum wage of $18.42 an hour effective July 1, 2026, for all employers. At 40 hours a week that is $736.80 before tax, or $38,313.60 over 52 weeks.

Every rate since 2022

The differences are our subtraction from the city's list. Over four years the rate rose $2.38, from $16.04 to $18.42. For a full-time worker that is $4,950.40 more a year at 40 hours and 52 weeks.

How the yearly adjustment works

The city says the rate is adjusted using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The adjusted rate is announced on February 1 each year and takes effect on July 1. So the rate you see in spring is already known, and the figure for July 2027 will appear on the city site by February 1, 2027.

Hotel workers have a separate rate

The city also runs a Citywide Hotel Worker Minimum Wage that increased on July 1, 2026, and its page notes a May 26, 2026 amendment to that ordinance (Ordinance 188944). If you work in a hotel, use the city's hotel wage chart rather than the $18.42 above.

Worked example

A barista in Los Angeles who works 32 hours a week for 52 weeks at $18.42 earns $589.44 a week and $30,650.88 gross. In July 2025, at $17.87, the same schedule paid $571.84 a week, so the July 2026 change adds $17.60 a week.

What this page does not cover

• Neighbouring cities and unincorporated Los Angeles County set their own minimums. This page is only for the City of Los Angeles.
• It does not cover California's statewide minimum wage or the city's paid sick leave rules.

FAQ

What is the minimum wage in Los Angeles in 2026?

$18.42 an hour, effective July 1, 2026, according to the City of Los Angeles Office of Wage Standards. It was $17.87 from July 1, 2025.

When does the Los Angeles minimum wage increase?

Each July 1. The new rate is announced on February 1 and based on the CPI-W for the Los Angeles area.

How much is the Los Angeles minimum wage per year?

$38,313.60 before tax at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks. Use the calculator to change hours and weeks.

Is there a separate minimum wage for hotel workers in Los Angeles?

Yes. The city has a Citywide Hotel Worker Minimum Wage that increased on July 1, 2026, with its own wage chart.

Does the Los Angeles rate apply in Santa Monica or Beverly Hills?

Not from this page. The city rate is for the City of Los Angeles; other cities have their own rules, so check the city where you work.

What was the Los Angeles minimum wage in 2025?

$17.87 an hour from July 1, 2025, per the city's rate table.

Sources

Retrieved 2026-11-01. Each link was opened and checked against the claim next to it.

• City of Los Angeles Office of Wage Standards: The $18.42 rate effective July 1, 2026, the rate table from 2022, the CPI-W method and February 1 announcement, and the hotel worker ordinance note.