Effective January 1, 2026, the minimum wage for all California hourly employees increased to $16.90 per hour, up from $16.50 per hour that was effective January 1, 2025.
The current California minimum wage for fast food restaurant employees that was established effective April 1, 2024 stands at $20 per hour. There is not an automatic inflation adjustment for this minimum wage. The Fast Food Council has the authority to adjust the wage. See www.dir.ca.gov/AB1228/AB1228.html.
The federal minimum wage for 2026 is still $7.25, a rate unchanged since it became effective on July 24, 2009…