- The Santa Clara minimum wage is $18.70 an hour, effective .
- That is $1.80 above the California state rate of $16.90 and $11.45 above the federal $7.25.
- The next change is : an indexed adjustment, amount to be announced.
- Coverage: Anyone who performs two hours or more of work per week in Santa Clara.
Rates and tiers
| Tier | Rate | Since |
|---|---|---|
| all employers | $18.70 |
Indexing
Yes
CPI, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose MSA adjusts January 1 (annual) announced City of Santa Clara (posters by November 1)
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
City of Santa Clara Minimum Wage Ordinance (approved August 22, 2017)
Scheduled increases
January 1, 20271 jurisdiction
CityTBA
Santa Clara, CAall employers · indexed-unannounced · Prior-year CPI (SF-Oakland-San Jose); calculated rate typically available mid-September
TBAindexed, amount to be announced
Official page: 'Starting January 1, 2026, the City of Santa Clara's minimum wage will increase from $18.20 ... to $18.70 per hour.' Matches Berkeley inventory.
Common questions
What is the Santa Clara minimum wage?
$18.70 an hour for all employers, effective January 1, 2026.
Is the Santa Clara minimum wage higher than the California state minimum wage?
Yes, by $1.80: $18.70 versus $16.90.
When does the Santa Clara minimum wage change next?
On January 1, 2027, by an indexed amount to be announced.
Sources
- https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our-city/government/governance/city-initiatives/minimum-wage-ordinance official
- https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/inventory-of-us-city-and-county-minimum-wage-ordinances/
Checked 2026-09-02; researcher confidence 0.97.