Mountain View Minimum Wage 2026 and 2027
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in Mountain View is $19.70 per hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. It is set by the local ordinance and is $2.80 above the California statewide minimum of $16.90 and $12.45 above the federal minimum of $7.25.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Rates and sources checked October 30, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Current rate (October 30, 2026)
$19.70
In effect since January 1, 2026
2027 status: Not announced yet
Not announced yet
Next adjustment date: January 1, 2027
Compared with California
$2.80 higher
California statewide rate $16.90; federal $7.25
Mountain View minimum wage rates
| Group | Rate on October 30, 2026 | Since | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All employees | $19.70 | January 1, 2026 | Not announced |
Set by Mountain View Minimum Wage Ordinance (amended November 10, 2015). Administered by the City of Mountain View City Manager's Office.
Mountain View minimum wage in 2027: Not announced yet
Not announced yet. The city page says the rate is annually updated in the fall for the next calendar year, based on the regional Consumer Price Index. The live city page read on October 30, 2026 lists no 2027 rate.
Beginning January 1, 2019, and every January 1 after, the rate rises by the prior year's Regional Consumer Price Index as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tipped workers
Tips do not count. The city says an employer may not use an employee's tips or fringe benefits as a credit toward the city minimum wage, and the rate table shows one rate for all employees. California law also bars a tip credit, as the Department of Industrial Relations says an employer may not use tips as a credit toward the minimum wage.
Who is covered
The city rate applies to employers that maintain a facility in Mountain View or pay the Mountain View Business License Tax, for any employee who performs at least two hours of work per week in the city, full-time or part-time, adult or minor, tips not included. Covered employees are entitled to these rights regardless of immigration status.
Tiers and exceptions
- The Mountain View page lists no lower rate, youth rate or exemption. This page does not summarize the ordinance text, so confirm any other exemption with the city.
- The 2015 amendment to the ordinance set $15.00 per hour by 2018; the rate has followed the Consumer Price Index each January 1 since 2019.
Mountain View compared with California and the federal minimum
| Minimum wage | October 30, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain View | $19.70 | Not announced |
| California (statewide) | $16.90 | $17.40 |
| Federal | $7.25 | $7.25 |
Employers must pay the highest rate that applies. See the California minimum wage page for the statewide rules.
Mountain View rate history
| Effective | All employees |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | $19.70 |
| January 1, 2025 | $19.20 |
| January 1, 2024 | $18.75 |
| January 1, 2023 | $18.15 |
| January 1, 2022 | $17.10 |
| January 1, 2021 | $16.30 |
| January 1, 2020 | $16.05 |
| January 1, 2019 | $15.65 |
| January 1, 2018 | $15.00 |
| January 1, 2017 | $13.00 |
| January 1, 2016 | $11.00 |
Mountain View minimum wage pay calculator
| Gross pay | Mountain View ($19.70) | California ($16.90) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly pay | $788.00 | $676.00 | $112.00 |
| Yearly pay | $40,976.00 | $35,152.00 | $5,824.00 |
Gross pay before taxes, paid straight time for every hour entered. The Mountain View rate is the general rate for the group named above; tipped, youth and other groups follow the rules listed on this page.
What the official sources say
“The minimum wage requirement set forth in the Mountain View Minimum Wage Ordinance applies to adult AND minor employees who work two (2) or more hours per week (tips not included).”
“No. An employer may not use an employee’s tips or fringe benefits as a credit towards the employer’s obligation to pay the City Minimum Wage.”
“An employer may not use an employee's tips as a credit toward its obligation to pay the minimum wage per hour.”
“The annual minimum wage rate adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Mountain View in 2026?
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in Mountain View is $19.70 per hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. It is set by Mountain View Minimum Wage Ordinance (amended November 10, 2015) and administered by the City of Mountain View City Manager's Office.
Will the Mountain View minimum wage go up in 2027?
Not announced yet. The city page says the rate is annually updated in the fall for the next calendar year, based on the regional Consumer Price Index. The live city page read on October 30, 2026 lists no 2027 rate.
How does the Mountain View minimum wage compare with the California and federal minimums?
The California statewide minimum is $16.90, so Mountain View is $2.80 higher. The federal minimum is $7.25. An employer must pay the highest rate that applies.
Who is covered by the Mountain View minimum wage?
The city rate applies to employers that maintain a facility in Mountain View or pay the Mountain View Business License Tax, for any employee who performs at least two hours of work per week in the city, full-time or part-time, adult or minor, tips not included. Covered employees are entitled to these rights regardless of immigration status.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Mountain View?
Tips do not count. The city says an employer may not use an employee's tips or fringe benefits as a credit toward the city minimum wage, and the rate table shows one rate for all employees. California law also bars a tip credit, as the Department of Industrial Relations says an employer may not use tips as a credit toward the minimum wage.
Are there different rates or exceptions in Mountain View?
The Mountain View page lists no lower rate, youth rate or exemption. This page does not summarize the ordinance text, so confirm any other exemption with the city.
Sources for Mountain View
- City of Mountain View: Mountain View Minimum Wage Ordinance
- City of Mountain View: New Minimum Wage Rate for 2026
- California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office: Minimum Wage FAQ
The rate table was read on the live city page on October 30, 2026; the news release was read from an Internet Archive copy captured March 12, 2026.
One answer on the archived city page still lists $19.20 as the Mountain View rate in its comparison with the federal and state minimums; the rate table, the other answers and the city news release all show $19.70, which this page uses.