California Minimum Wage 2027: $17.40 an Hour
Short answer: California's minimum wage rises from $16.90 to $17.40 an hour in 2027 (effective January 1, 2027). A full-time worker earns about $36,192 a year before taxes.
What changes on January 1, 2027
California's Department of Finance certified the 2027 increase on July 31, 2026. State law adjusts the statewide minimum wage annually for inflation.
What to know in California
- The statewide minimum wage also sets the salary floor for overtime-exempt employees: $17.40 × 2 × 40 hours × 52 weeks = $72,384 a year from January 1, 2027.
- Many California cities and counties set higher local minimums, and employers must follow the higher local rate where one applies.
- California has separate, higher statewide minimums for covered fast-food and health-care workers; those schedules are not covered on this page.
What $17.40 an hour pays
| Schedule | At $16.90 (2026) | At $17.40 (2027) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per hour | $16.90 | $17.40 | +$0.50 |
| Per 40-hour week | $676.00 | $696.00 | +$20.00 |
| Per two-week paycheck (80 hours) | $1,352.00 | $1,392.00 | +$40.00 |
| Per month (full-time ÷ 12) | $2,929.33 | $3,016.00 | +$86.67 |
| Per year, full-time | $35,152 | $36,192 | +$1,040 |
| Per year, part-time (20 h/week) | $17,576 | $18,096 | +$520 |
Use the minimum wage pay calculator to change the hours or weeks.
Overtime at the California minimum wage and the federal tax deduction
Suppose a nonexempt worker earning $17.40 an hour works 6 hours of overtime a week for 45 weeks, paid at time-and-a-half. That overtime pay is $17.40 × 1.5 × 6 × 45 = $7,047. Only the premium over the regular rate, $17.40 × 0.5 × 6 × 45 = $2,349, can be deducted under the federal no-tax-on-overtime rules (up to $12,500, or $25,000 on a joint return). Try your own numbers in the overtime calculator.
Remember that some states add their own overtime rules beyond the federal 40-hour week, but only overtime required by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act counts toward the federal deduction. Read the details in Qualified Overtime and the FLSA.
How California compares
Closest 2027 rates on this site:
- Connecticut: $17.48 (+$0.08 higher)
- Washington: $17.73 (+$0.33 higher)
- Rhode Island: $17.00 (−$0.40 lower)
See every state in 2027 minimum wage by state or the ranking of states raising wages on January 1.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in California in 2027?
California's minimum wage for most adult workers is $17.40 per hour in 2027, up from $16.90 in 2026. The figure comes from the state source linked below.
How much more will a full-time California worker earn at $17.40?
The raise is $0.50 an hour (3.0%). For a full-time worker at 2,080 hours a year, that is $1,040 more per year before taxes, from $35,152 to $36,192.
How does California rank among 2027 minimum wages?
Among the 15 state rates with a 2027 rate on this site, California ranks number 3 (1 is highest). The highest is Washington at $17.73.
Where can I confirm California's rate?
Use the official source: California DIR news release 2026-66 (https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2026/2026-66.html). For payroll or a wage dispute, contact the state labor department directly.
Does the federal minimum wage still apply in California?
Yes. The federal minimum is $7.25 an hour under the Fair Labor Standards Act, but where state law is higher, workers covered by both get the higher state rate.
Sources and citations
Every dollar figure on this page was checked against the official pages below on November 14, 2026. If an agency updates its guidance, the agency page controls.