Here is how the minimum wage in Los Angeles will increase soon: the new amount and when it takes effect

The City and County of Los Angeles are preparing to raise their respective minimum wages, with the new rates set to surpass both the California state minimum wage and the federal minimum.

As of January, California’s minimum wage increased to $16.90 an hour. At the federal level, however, the minimum wage remains $7.25 an hour, a figure that has not changed since 2009. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming minimum wage increases in Los Angeles.

How the minimum wage will increase in the City of Los Angeles

In recent years, the minimum wage in the City of Los Angeles has typically increased in July, and the next bump is just around the corner.

Under current law, the increase is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI‑W) for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

On July 1, 2026, the minimum wage in the City of Los Angeles will rise to $18.42 per hour - $1.50 more than California’s statewide minimum wage.

“This increase is applicable to Employees covered by the Minimum Wage Ordinance, specifically, those who perform at least two hours of work within the geographic boundaries of the City for an Employer and qualify as an Employee entitled to payment of a minimum wage from any Employer under the California minimum wage law,” the city government said in a statement.

How the minimum wage will increase in Los Angeles County

In the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, the minimum wage also increases in July. This adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, using data from November 2025.

Starting July 1, 2026, the minimum wage in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will be $18.47 per hour. You can find the complete list of unincorporated communities within Los Angeles County - where this increase does apply - here.

The Los Angeles County minimum wage does not apply to the county’s 88 incorporated cities. Incorporated cities that do not have their own local minimum wage laws are governed by the state minimum wage. In addition to the City of Los Angeles, other cities such as Malibu, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood have established their own local minimum wage rates.

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