City’s Minimum Wage Rate Increases to $18.57 Effective July 1

The city’s minimum wage will increase from $18.04 to $18.57 per hour for all businesses, regardless of size, effective Wednesday, July 1.

The City Council adopted the city’s minimum wage ordinance on March 14, 2016.

These rules were implemented prior to the State of California’s minimum wage legislation, and the state’s minimum wage requirements do not override the city’s ordinance.

The city’s minimum wage follows a distinct schedule that includes higher incremental increases.

After several planned annual adjustments, the Pasadena minimum wage is now updated each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.

This new rate will remain in effect until June 30, 2027, when the next adjustment will occur.

As of April 1, 2024, the State of California established a $20 per hour minimum wage for employees of “national fast-food chain” establishments.

This state requirement applies to all qualifying fast-food businesses operating within Pasadena and supersedes the city’s minimum wage when an employer meets the state’s definition of a national fast-food chain. For more information on the state’s fast-food minimum wage, visit the California Department of Industrial Relations at Dir.Ca.gov/Dlse/Faq_MinimumWage.htm.

The Planning & Community Development Department, Code Compliance Division, administers Pasadena’s minimum wage ordinance through outreach, education, training and coordinated enforcement with the California Department of Industrial Relations / Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

For more information or to file a complaint related to the Pasadena minimum wage ordinance, contact Code Compliance Manager Jon Pollard at (626) 744-6831 or JPollard@CityOfPasadena.net, or Outreach, Education and Training Coordinator Julieta Aragon at (626) 440-1031 or Julieta@Ndlon.org. Official notices and additional resources are available at CityOfPasadena.net/Planning/Code-Compliance/Minimum-Wage-Ordinance/.