Hourly PayWhat $16.90 an hour comes to
| Working time | Pay before tax |
|---|---|
| 8-hour day | $135.20 |
| 40-hour week | $676.00 |
| Month (one twelfth of a year) | $2,929.33 |
| Year (2,080 hours) | $35,152.00 |
Plain multiplication for a full-time worker paid for every hour, before tax and deductions. It is not a statement of what any employer pays.
How it compares
At $16.90, the state rate is 133% above the federal minimum of $7.25. Over a 2,080-hour year that difference is $20,072 before tax. 34 of the 50 states and territories with a rate in the table are above the federal minimum; California is number 5 from the top. The median hourly wage of all employees in California was $28.00 in May 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics): half earned more, half less. The $16.90 minimum is 60% of that median.
What the Department of Labor's table says about California
- Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $16.90
- Any work in excess of eight hours in one workday, in excess of 40 hours in one workweek, or in the first eight hours worked on the seventh day of work in any one workweek shall be at the rate of one and one-half times the regular rate of pay. Any work in excess of 12 hours in one day or in excess of eight hours on any seventh day of a workweek shall be paid no less than twice the regular rate of pay. California Labor Code section 510. Exceptions apply to an employee working pursuant to an alternative workweek adopted pursuant to applicable Labor Code sections and for time spent commuting. (See Labor Code section 510 for exceptions).
- The minimum wage will be adjusted annually based upon a set formula.
- Premium Pay After Designated Hours: Daily - 8 (time and half), and 12 (double time), Weekly - 40; on 7th day: First 8 hours (time and half) Over 8 hours on 7th day (double time)
Quoted from the Department's page as updated on 5 November 2026. The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
Before you rely on a rate
- Cities and counties in some states set their own, higher minimum wage. This page shows the state entry only.
- Workers who receive tips, young workers, trainees and some small employers can come under different rates or exemptions.
- Where a state rate and the federal rate both apply, the worker is entitled to the higher one.
- Rates are usually changed on 1 January or 1 July. Check the date at the top of this page.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in California?
$16.90 an hour, as listed by the U.S. Department of Labor on 5 November 2026.
How much is California minimum wage for a full-time year?
$16.90 an hour for 2,080 hours comes to $35,152 before tax.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, "State Minimum Wage Laws", page updated 5 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Rates change, often on 1 January or 1 July, and some cities and counties set higher rates of their own. This is general information, not legal advice: confirm the rate that applies to you with your state labour office or at dol.gov.