- The San Mateo County minimum wage is $17.95 an hour, effective .
- That is $1.05 above the California state rate of $16.90 and $10.70 above the federal $7.25.
- The next change is : an indexed adjustment, amount to be announced.
- Coverage: Workers in the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County (hours threshold not on page).
Rates and tiers
| Tier | Rate | Since |
|---|---|---|
| all employers | $17.95 |
Indexing
Yes
CPI (details not on the fetched page) adjusts January 1 (annual) announced County of San Mateo, County Executive's Office
Tipped
Same as minimum
no tip credit under California law (confirmed: DIR FAQ states an employer may not use an employee's tips as a credit toward its obligation to pay the minimum wage)
Ordinance
San Mateo County unincorporated minimum wage ordinance
Scheduled increases
January 1, 20271 jurisdiction
CountyTBA
San Mateo County (unincorporated), CAall employers · indexed-unannounced · Annual adjustment each January 1 (bulletin with calculation posted by county)
TBAindexed, amount to be announced
Official page: 'Workers must earn at least $17.95 an hour in unincorporated San Mateo County as of January 1, 2026.' Matches Berkeley inventory.
Common questions
What is the San Mateo County minimum wage?
$17.95 an hour for all employers, effective January 1, 2026.
Is the San Mateo County minimum wage higher than the California state minimum wage?
Yes, by $1.05: $17.95 versus $16.90.
When does the San Mateo County minimum wage change next?
On January 1, 2027, by an indexed amount to be announced.
Sources
- https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/unincorporated-minimum-wage
- https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/inventory-of-us-city-and-county-minimum-wage-ordinances/
Checked 2026-09-02; researcher confidence 0.95.