Minimum wage in Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica sets its own minimum wage under its Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 4.62. The general rate is $18.47 an hour, in effect since ; that is $1.57 above the California rate of $16.90. Future rates are set by formula rather than a published schedule.

Read from City of Santa Monica: Minimum Wage on (page SHA-256 63b726cf7eb6…). Every figure on this page was found on that page at that time.

Current rates

Rate per hourApplies toIn effect since
$18.47All covered employers

Scheduled changes

The city's page states no dated increase beyond the current rate.

How the rate is adjusted: Adjusted each July 1 by the CPI-W.

Tipped employees

The city's page states no separate tipped rate; California law allows no tip credit, so the full local minimum wage is owed before tips. California's state tipped rule (DOL): cash wage $16.90.

What the page also states

  • Hotels and businesses on hotel property: $25.00 from July 1, 2026, matching the City of Los Angeles hotel rate.

Against the state and federal rates

LawRate
Santa Monica (city ordinance)$18.47
California (state law)$16.90
Federal (FLSA)$7.25

Where federal, state and local laws all cover an employer, the highest applicable rate must be paid. Whether a particular job is covered by this ordinance (most apply to hours worked inside the city limits, with a minimum number of hours a week) depends on facts this site does not assess. This page describes published rates and is not legal advice; see FastGuide for how to raise an underpayment.

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