The new year brings new resolutions — and a slight increase in pay for minimum wage workers in California.
Eight cities in Santa Clara County already pay workers above the hourly rate, which in 2026 is $16.90, up 40 cents from the state’s 2025 minimum wage. Business owners are bracing for an uptick in costs and workers say the increase isn’t enough, while others already making more than minimum wage are still struggling.
In San Jose — where minimum wage is inching up 50 cents to $18.45 an hour — that only adds up to an additional $1,040 a year for someone working 40 hours a week, while the state’s 40-cent increase amounts to an additional $832 a year…