2023 California Minimum Wage
The 2023 California Minimum Wage is $15.50.
Effective 2023-01-01Source: Official Notice: California Minimum Wage MW-2023 (California Department of Industrial Relations)Verified 2026-08-30
Who it applies to
All employees working in the State of California, with limited exceptions for outside salespersons and immediate family members of the employer.
What changed this year, and why
California's minimum wage increased to $15.50 per hour effective January 1, 2023, for all employers regardless of size.
Common questions
- Does the 2023 California minimum wage apply to all employers?
- The minimum wage in California in 2023 is $15.50 per hour, effective January 1, 2023. The rate applies to all employers regardless of the number of employees.
- Can an employer credit meals or lodging toward the minimum wage?
- No. California law allows employers to credit a limited amount for meals or lodging against the minimum wage, but only when there is a voluntary written agreement between the employer and the employee.
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Questions about enforcement of California's minimum wage should be directed to the Labor Commissioner's Office. The poster provides an online resource for finding the office nearest the worker: www.dir.ca.gov/DLSE/dlse.html. A worker can also search for "California Labor Commissioner's Office" on the internet or in any directory. The Labor Commissioner maintains physical offices in Bakersfield, El Centro, Fresno, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Redding, Sacramento, Salinas, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, Stockton, and Van Nuys. An employee who believes an employer has paid less than $15.50 per hour, failed to pay overtime, or improperly deducted wages may file a wage claim with any of these offices. The claim process allows workers to recover unpaid wages without hiring a private attorney. Employers with questions about compliance may also contact the Labor Commissioner's Office for guidance.
Questions about enforcement should be directed to the Labor Commissioner's Office. For the address and telephone number of the office nearest you, information can be found on the internet at www.dir.ca.gov/DLSE/dlse.html or under a search for “California Labor Commissioner's Office” on the internet or any other directory.
Official Notice: California Minimum Wage MW-2023 (California Department of Industrial Relations)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
In California, an employer may credit the value of meals or lodging toward its minimum wage obligation, but only under strict conditions. The credit must be based on a voluntary written agreement between the employer and the employee. Without such an agreement, meals or lodging may not be counted against the wages owed. Even with an agreement, the amount credited cannot exceed the specific dollar caps set in the wage order for each category of lodging (such as a room occupied alone, a shared room, or an apartment) and each meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). These caps are published in a table within the wage order and are updated annually alongside the minimum wage rate. The wage order makes clear that the credited amounts may not exceed what is stated in the table. For 2023, a single cap applies to all employers regardless of the number of employees, replacing the previous two-tier system. If an employer provides meals or lodging but has not obtained a voluntary written agreement, or if the credit exceeds the posted cap, the full $15.50 per hour must still be paid in cash wages. Workers who believe their employer is improperly crediting meals or lodging against their pay can file a complaint with the Labor Commissioner's Office.
Meals or lodging may not be credited against the minimum wage without a voluntary written agreement between the employer and the employee. When credit for meals or lodging is used to meet part of the employer's minimum wage obligation, the amounts so credited may not be more than the amounts stated in the table above.
Official Notice: California Minimum Wage MW-2023 (California Department of Industrial Relations)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Official Notice: California Minimum Wage MW-2023 (California Department of Industrial Relations)
- Hourly
Effective January 1, 2023 Minimum Wage $15.50 per hour
Other years
Every California Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state