Effective July 1, 2026, the minimum wage rate for the Los Angeles metropolitan area will increase to $18.42. Los Angeles employers are accustomed to minimum wage increases based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, which is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This year, the hourly minimum wage rate will increase by 55 cents per the 2026 Minimum Wage Rate Increase Memo.
What is new this year is a citywide hotel worker ordinance requiring employers to provide health benefits and pay a higher ($25) minimum wage – just in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. See Citywide Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Rate. In response to pressure from the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West Union, hotel employers will be required to pay a health benefit rate of $8.15 per hour for hotel workers and their dependents. If no health benefits are provided, $8.15 shall be provided as an additional hourly wage. If the hotel employer’s hourly health benefit payment is less than $8.15, the difference shall be paid to the hotel worker as an additional hourly wage. (See Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 186.04.)
Employers should review their city’s current minimum wage webpage for the latest minimum wage rates, posting forms and notices, and City of Los Angeles employers should consult Office of Wage Standards | Wages LA. We will continue to monitor for updates.