- The Santa Monica minimum wage is $18.47 an hour, effective .
- That is $1.57 above the California state rate of $16.90 and $11.22 above the federal $7.25.
- The next change is : an indexed adjustment, amount to be announced.
- Coverage: Employees working in Santa Monica (page does not state an hours threshold); limited exemptions for first-time workers (85% for first 160 hours) and CBA employees.
Rates and tiers
| Tier | Rate | Since |
|---|---|---|
| all employers | $18.47 |
Indexing
Yes
CPI-W, Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County adjusts July 1 (annual) announced City of Santa Monica (posted on or near January 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
Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 4.62 (Minimum Wage)
Scheduled increases
July 1, 20271 jurisdiction
CityTBA
Santa Monica, CAall employers · indexed-unannounced · CPI-W LA metro; aligned with LA County unincorporated rate
TBAindexed, amount to be announced
Official page: 'will increase to $18.47 per hour effective July 1, 2026'. Matches Berkeley inventory. Hotel worker wage recorded as santa-monica-hotel-ca.
Common questions
What is the Santa Monica minimum wage?
$18.47 an hour for all employers, effective July 1, 2026.
Is the Santa Monica minimum wage higher than the California state minimum wage?
Yes, by $1.57: $18.47 versus $16.90.
When does the Santa Monica minimum wage change next?
On July 1, 2027, by an indexed amount to be announced.
Sources
- https://www.santamonica.gov/minimum-wage official
- https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/inventory-of-us-city-and-county-minimum-wage-ordinances/
Checked 2026-09-02; researcher confidence 0.97.