California minimum wage
The current DOL summary, effective-floor context, and a direct path to the state labor office.
The U.S. Department of Labor summary for California states: California Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $16.90 Any work in excess of eight hours in one workday, in excess of 40 hours in one workweek, or in the first eight hours worked on the seventh day of work in any one workweek shall be at the rate of one and one-half times the regular rate of pay. Any work in excess of 12 hours in one day or in excess of eight hours on any seventh day of a workweek shall be paid no less than twice the regular rate of pay. California Labor Code section 510. Exceptions apply to an employee working pursuant to an alternative workweek adopted pursuant to applicable Labor Code sections and for time spent commuting. (See Labor Code section 510 for exceptions). The minimum wage will be adjusted annually based upon a set formula. Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Daily - 8 (time and half), and 12 (double time), Weekly - 40; on 7th day: First 8 hours (time and half) Over 8 hours on 7th day (double time) This text is retained because the listed state rate alone can be misleading when a state has no wage law, has a rate below the federal floor, or limits coverage. The applicable figure shown above uses the federal $7.25 floor where the DOL summary says covered employers must use it.
The statewide number is not the end of the analysis. Employer coverage, worker age, occupation, industry, tipped status, training arrangements, disability certificates, local ordinances, and other exceptions can affect the rate. The work location usually matters more than the employer’s headquarters. Confirm the date and coverage before using a number in a payroll calculation or claim.
The DOL table records this update as July 1, 2026. The state entry’s scheduled-increase note is: The minimum wage will be adjusted annually based upon a set formula.. When that field is “not available,” LaborBrief does not infer a future adjustment. A formula, ballot measure, or pending bill is not converted into a rate until an agency publication supplies the fact and effective date.
Overtime is a separate question. The DOL state summary says: Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Daily - 8 (time and half), and 12 (double time), Weekly - 40; on 7th day: First 8 hours (time and half) Over 8 hours on 7th day (double time) Federal overtime may still apply even when no state premium-pay line is listed. Review overtime pay, hours worked, and regular rate rather than multiplying the wage floor without checking coverage.
The state’s broad labor-market estimate—18,213,700 jobs and a $80,690 mean annual wage—comes from BLS OEWS May 2025 and is not used to derive the wage floor. Keeping statistical and legal sources separate prevents a market average from being mistaken for a statutory minimum.
For current enforcement and state-specific details, use Labor and Workforce Development Agency. The California overview connects this rule with employment data, while state worker-rights sources and the verification guide provide a broader research path.
Primary sources
- DOL State Minimum Wage Laws — updated July 1, 2026
- Labor and Workforce Development Agency — state source
- DOL federal minimum wage guidance — federal baseline