Millions of Californians earn and rely upon the minimum wage. With some of the highest standards of living in the country, the State of California enacted a law to incrementally increase the minimum wage to help these employees. Employers who sidestep this basic obligation and pay their employees below the minimum wage should be held accountable.
Starting on January 1, 2017, the State of California began a schedule for the minimum wage to ultimately increase the minimum wage to $15/hour by 2023. The schedule for the California minimum wage is as follows:
|
Date |
Minimum Wage for Employer with 25 Employees or Less |
Minimum Wage for Employers with 26 Employees or More |
|
January 1, 2020 |
$12.00/hour |
$13.00/hour |
|
January 1, 2021 |
$13.00/hour |
$14.00/hour |
|
January 1, 2022 |
$14.00/hour |
$15.00/hour |
|
January 1, 2023 |
$15.00/hour |
Various cities throughout the State of California have established their own minimum wages that are even higher than the State’s minimum wages. For example, the minimum wage in the City of Cupertino beginning January 1, 2020 is $15.35. Beginning July 1, 2020, the minimum wage in the City of Los Angeles will be $14.25 (for employers with 26 or more employees) and $13.25 (for employers with 25 or less employees). Employers are required to pay their employees the correct minimum wage based on the location where the employee performs his/her work. If you are unsure if you are being paid the correct minimum wage, you should consult a labor and employment attorney. If your employer has failed to pay you the correct wage, you can receive a significant recovery.
