Minimum wage in California: It will increase in July for these people

On January 1, California’s statewide minimum wage increased to $16.90 per hour. However, it is set to go up again in a few months, though only for specific employees.

In October 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 525 into law, establishing phased minimum wage increases for thousands of healthcare workers across California. The measure took effect one year later and remains in place, with additional increases scheduled for 2026.

Who will receive the upcoming minimum wage increase in California?

The wage increase applies to certain employees at some hospitals, clinics, dialysis centers, and other healthcare support facilities. Pay rates vary depending on the size of the facility and the type of employer.

According to the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), workers must meet specific requirements to qualify for the minimum wage increase.

The DIR explains that eligible workers must be employed at certain healthcare facilities covered by the law and must either provide healthcare services or support the delivery of healthcare services. You can review which healthcare facilities are required to pay the higher minimum wage here.

How California’s minimum wage will increase for healthcare workers

Beginning July 1, the minimum wage for healthcare workers in California will increase as follows, depending on the type of healthcare facility:

• Hospitals or integrated health systems with 10,000 or more full-time employees (including skilled nursing facilities operated by these employers): $25 per hour from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027
• Dialysis clinics: $25 per hour from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027
• Safety-net hospitals: $19.28 per hour from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027
• Intermittent clinics, community clinics, rural health clinics, or urgent care clinics affiliated with community or rural health clinics: $22 per hour from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027
• All other covered healthcare facilities not listed in the other categories and not operated by counties: $23 per hour from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028
• Covered healthcare facilities operated by large counties with populations of more than 5 million people as of January 1, 2023: $25 per hour from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027
• Covered healthcare facilities operated by mid-sized counties with populations between 250,000 and 5 million people as of January 1, 2023: $23 per hour from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028
• Covered healthcare facilities operated by small counties with populations of fewer than 250,000 people as of January 1, 2023: $19.28 per hour from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027
• Skilled nursing facilities that are not owned, operated, or controlled by a hospital, integrated health system, or healthcare system (this only takes effect if a minimum patient care spending requirement is approved): $23 per hour from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027

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