Minimum wage by state · California
Minimum Wage in California (2025)
In 2025, the minimum wage in California is $16.5 an hour — about $34,320 a year full-time, and tied for the 3rd-highest of the 51 states and DC. Here's what that wage works out to in real terms, the tipped picture, and how it stacks up against the federal floor and the highest-paying state.
- California minimum wage $16.5/hr effective 2025 rate
- Full-time a year $34,320 40 hrs/wk, 52 wks
- Tipped minimum — cash wage for tipped work
- vs federal $7.25 +$9.25 above federal $7.25
Minimum wage in California
The 2025 minimum wage in California is $16.5 an hour. That is $9.25 (about 128%) above the federal minimum of $7.25. Because the effective minimum is always the higher of the state or federal rate, workers here are entitled to the state's $16.5 — well clear of the $7.25 federal floor.
$16.5 an hour, in real terms
An hourly figure is abstract until you scale it up. Here is what $16.5 an hour becomes over a week and a full year of full-time work:
Full-time at $16.5 an hour — 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year — works out to about $34,320 a year before taxes. That is roughly $19,240 more than the $15,080 a full-time job at the $7.25 federal minimum would pay, and about $2,080 less than the $36,400 earned at District of Columbia's nation-leading $17.5. To see what actually lands in a paycheck after tax, run the numbers with the take-home pay calculator.
The tipped wage
Our dataset does not report a separate tipped cash wage for California, so in this data tipped workers are treated under the standard $16.5 minimum. Tipped-wage rules differ from state to state and change frequently — always confirm the current cash-wage and tip-credit rules with the California labor department before relying on them.
How California compares
Among all 51 states and DC, California's $16.5 is tied for the 3rd-highest of the 51 states and DC. The federal minimum is $7.25, and the highest anywhere is District of Columbia at $17.5, about $1.00 above California. California is one of the 31 states and DC that pay above the federal floor. For the full picture — every state ranked, the highest and lowest, and how the map has shifted — see minimum wage by state. You can also compare any two states with the minimum wage by state calculator.
Minimum wage in California — FAQ
What is the minimum wage in California in 2025?
The 2025 minimum wage in California is $16.5 per hour. That is $9.25 (about 128%) above the federal minimum of $7.25. Because the effective minimum is always the higher of the state or federal rate, no employer covered by the law may pay less.
How much is minimum wage a year in California?
At $16.5 an hour, full-time work (40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year) comes to about $34,320 a year before taxes, roughly $19,240 more than the $15,080 a full-time federal-minimum job pays. Use the take-home pay calculator to see what lands in your pocket after tax.
Is California's minimum wage above the federal minimum?
Yes. At $16.5, California sits $9.25 (about 128%) above the $7.25 federal minimum. It is one of the 31 states and DC that pay above the federal floor.
What is the tipped minimum wage in California?
Our dataset does not list a separate tipped cash wage for California, so tipped workers here are covered by the standard $16.5 minimum in this data. Tipped-wage rules vary and change often — confirm with your state labor department.
How does California's minimum wage rank nationally?
Among all 51 states and DC, California's $16.5 is tied for the 3rd-highest of the 51 states and DC. The highest is District of Columbia at $17.5; the federal floor is $7.25.
