Santa Monica Minimum Wage 2026 and 2027
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in Santa Monica is $18.47 per hour, in effect since July 1, 2026. It is set by the local ordinance and is $1.57 above the California statewide minimum of $16.90 and $11.22 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)
$18.47
In effect since July 1, 2026
2027 status: Not announced yet
Not announced yet
Next adjustment date: July 1, 2027
Compared with California
$1.57 higher
California statewide rate $16.90; federal $7.25
Santa Monica minimum wage rates
| Group | Rate on October 30, 2026 | Since | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All employers | $18.47 | July 1, 2026 | Not announced |
| Hotel workers and businesses operating on hotel property | $25.00 | July 1, 2026 | Not announced; matches the Los Angeles hotel wage |
Set by Santa Monica Minimum Wage Ordinance (Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.63, effective July 1, 2016). Administered by the City of Santa Monica, enforced by the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.
Santa Monica minimum wage in 2027: Not announced yet
Not announced yet. Santa Monica says the rate is adjusted each year on July 1 by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Los Angeles metropolitan area and aligned with the unincorporated Los Angeles County rate, and that the city posts the new rates on or near January 1.
Each July 1 the rate is adjusted by the CPI-W for the Los Angeles metropolitan area and aligned with the unincorporated Los Angeles County rate; the city posts new rates on or near January 1.
Tipped workers
California law does not allow a tip credit: the California Department of Industrial Relations says an employer may not use an employee's tips as a credit toward its obligation to pay the minimum wage per hour. The Santa Monica page lists one general rate and no separate tipped rate.
Who is covered
The ordinance applies to employers in Santa Monica from July 1, 2016. Where the city, the State of California, the City and County of Los Angeles or other jurisdictions have conflicting minimum wage laws, the employer must follow the law that is most generous to employees. Los Angeles County's Department of Consumer and Business Affairs enforces the city law.
Tiers and exceptions
- First-time workers: employees working for the first time in an activity in which they have no previous similar or related experience can earn 85 percent of the minimum wage for the first 160 hours of employment, the same as the state learner rule.
- The ordinance also has a limited exemption for employees under a collective bargaining agreement and a limited exemption for transitional employers, who apply by email to the county office. Hotels have a one-year hardship waiver for cases that would otherwise mean cutting employment by more than 20 percent or hours by more than 30 percent.
- Until 2021 businesses with 25 or fewer employees paid a lower rate than larger businesses, as the table shows; since July 1, 2021 the city lists the same rate for every size.
| Year (July 1) | Businesses with 26 or more employees | Businesses with 25 or fewer employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $10.50 | $10.00 |
| 2017 | $12.00 | $10.50 |
| 2018 | $13.25 | $12.00 |
| 2019 | $14.25 | $13.25 |
| 2020 | $15.00 | $14.25 |
Santa Monica rates by employer size, July 1 of 2016 to 2020 (the same rate for all sizes since 2021). The 2016 rate for small businesses was the California state minimum wage. The city says its general minimum wage is aligned with unincorporated Los Angeles County.
Santa Monica compared with California and the federal minimum
| Minimum wage | October 30, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica | $18.47 | $18.47 |
| 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.
Santa Monica rate history
| Effective | All employers |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | $18.47 |
| 2025 | $17.81 |
| 2024 | $17.27 |
| 2023 | $16.90 |
| 2022 | $15.96 |
| 2021 | $15.00 |
Hotel workers and businesses operating on hotel property
- July 1, 2026$25.00
- September 8, 2025$22.50
Santa Monica minimum wage pay calculator
| Gross pay | Santa Monica ($18.47) | California ($16.90) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly pay | $738.80 | $676.00 | $62.80 |
| Yearly pay | $38,417.60 | $35,152.00 | $3,265.60 |
Gross pay before taxes, paid straight time for every hour entered. The Santa Monica 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
“Each year, effective on July 1st, the annual minimum wage rate is adjusted by Consumer Price Index and aligned with LA County (unincorporated) rates.”
“An employer may not use an employee's tips as a credit toward its obligation to pay the minimum wage per hour.”
“Employees working for the first time in an activity in which they have no previous similar or related experience can earn 85% of the minimum wage for the first 160 hours of employment.”
“Where requirements conflict, the employer must follow the law that is most generous to employees.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Santa Monica in 2026?
As of October 30, 2026, the minimum wage in Santa Monica is $18.47 per hour, in effect since July 1, 2026. It is set by Santa Monica Minimum Wage Ordinance (Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.63, effective July 1, 2016) and administered by the City of Santa Monica, enforced by the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.
Will the Santa Monica minimum wage go up in 2027?
Not announced yet. Santa Monica says the rate is adjusted each year on July 1 by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Los Angeles metropolitan area and aligned with the unincorporated Los Angeles County rate, and that the city posts the new rates on or near January 1.
How does the Santa Monica minimum wage compare with the California and federal minimums?
The California statewide minimum is $16.90, so Santa Monica is $1.57 higher. The federal minimum is $7.25. An employer must pay the highest rate that applies.
Who is covered by the Santa Monica minimum wage?
The ordinance applies to employers in Santa Monica from July 1, 2016. Where the city, the State of California, the City and County of Los Angeles or other jurisdictions have conflicting minimum wage laws, the employer must follow the law that is most generous to employees. Los Angeles County's Department of Consumer and Business Affairs enforces the city law.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Santa Monica?
California law does not allow a tip credit: the California Department of Industrial Relations says an employer may not use an employee's tips as a credit toward its obligation to pay the minimum wage per hour. The Santa Monica page lists one general rate and no separate tipped rate.
Are there different rates or exceptions in Santa Monica?
Hotel workers and businesses operating on hotel property: $25.00. First-time workers: employees working for the first time in an activity in which they have no previous similar or related experience can earn 85 percent of the minimum wage for the first 160 hours of employment, the same as the state learner rule.
Did Santa Monica ever have different rates by employer size?
Until 2021 businesses with 25 or fewer employees paid a lower rate than larger businesses, as the table shows; since July 1, 2021 the city lists the same rate for every size. The 2016 rate for small businesses was the California state minimum wage. The city says its general minimum wage is aligned with unincorporated Los Angeles County.
Sources for Santa Monica
- City of Santa Monica: Minimum Wage
- California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office: Minimum Wage FAQ
Sources checked October 30, 2026.
The top paragraph of the city page still reads "will increase to $18.47 per hour effective July 1, 2026", while the rate table on the same page lists $18.47 for 2026. This page shows $18.47 since July 1, 2026. The table lists the rates "as of July 1 each year", so the history rows show the year and the July 1 date follows from that line.