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California Minimum Wage 2026

California’s minimum wage is $16.90 an hour in 2026, effective January 1, 2026. Full time at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks that is $35,152 a year before tax.

Tax year 2026 Tables verified 2026-10-09 Free, no signup, runs in your browser

State is California on this page. Change it on the national calculator.

Overtime, tips, and bonus
W-4, benefits, local tax, and year-to-date

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Every two weeks

Net pay $1,136.16

Effective tax rate 15.96% of gross. About $2,461.68 a month over a full year.

  • Net pay $1,136.16
  • Federal income tax $78.39
  • FICA $103.42
  • State and local $16.45
  • State payroll $17.58
This paycheck
$1,136.16
Full year, net
$29,540.11
Full year, gross
$35,152.00
Hourly equivalent
$16.90
How we calculated this
Gross pay$1,352.00
  1. This paycheck $1,352.00

Amount entered. Hourly rate times hours, plus overtime, tips, and any bonus on this check.

Federal income tax$78.39
  1. 1a Taxable wages this period $1,352.00
  2. 1b Pay periods in the year 26
  3. 1c Annualized wages (1a × 1b) $35,152.00
  4. 1d Step 4(a) other income $0.00
  5. 1e 1c + 1d $35,152.00
  6. 1f Step 4(b) deductions $0.00
  7. 1g $8,600.00 (any other filing status)
  8. 1i Adjusted annual wages $26,552.00
  9. Table Single or married filing separately, standard (Pub 15-T 2026)
  10. Bracket $19,900.00 up to $57,900.00: $1,240.00 plus 12% of the amount over $19,900.00
  11. 2g Tentative annual tax $2,038.24
  12. 2h Per paycheck (2g ÷ periods) $78.39
  13. 3 Step 3 credits, per paycheck $0.00
  14. 4c Extra withholding $0.00
  15. Federal income tax this paycheck $78.39

IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A. Percentage method for automated payroll systems.

Social Security$83.82
  1. Rate 6.2% × $1,352.00 of Social Security wages, wage base $184,500.00.
  2. This paycheck $83.82

Social Security Administration, contribution and benefit base. 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500.00. The annual maximum is $11,439.00.

Medicare$19.60
  1. This paycheck $19.60

IRS Publication 15 (2026). 1.45% of Medicare wages. No wage base.

California income tax$16.45
  1. Method EDD Method B, annual table, Single, dual-income married, or married with multiple employers.
  2. Standard deduction $5,706.00
  3. Taxable income $29,446.00
  4. Annual table row Over $26,264.00: $455.94 plus 4.40% of the excess.
  5. Tax before allowance credit $595.95
  6. Allowance credit 1 × $168.30 = $168.30
  7. Annual withholding $427.65
  8. This paycheck $16.45

California Employment Development Department. California EDD 2026 Method B exact-calculation method, annual payroll-period tables.

California SDI$17.58
  1. Rate 1.3% × $1,352.00 = $17.58

California EDD, payroll tax rates. 1.3% of wages. No wage cap in 2026.

Net pay$1,136.16

California minimum wage in 2026

The California basic minimum wage is $16.90 an hour, effective January 1, 2026.

Some cities, counties, and industries (fast food, health care) have higher minimums.

Rates were checked against California Department of Industrial Relations, minimum wage FAQ and the Department of Labor consolidated table on October 19, 2026.

From hourly to yearly pay

Yearly pay is the hourly rate times hours per week times 52. At $16.90 that is $35,152.00 for a 40-hour week. Part-time hours scale down: 30 hours a week is $26,364.00 a year. The calculator above starts at the minimum wage and shows the take-home after California tax. Change the hours or the rate to test another job.

Other tools: the California hourly to salary calculator, the California paycheck calculator, the overtime calculator, and the minimum wage by state table.

California minimum wage pay at $16.90 an hour, 40 hours a week, before tax
PeriodGross pay
Hourly$16.90
Time and a half (overtime)$25.35
Weekly$676.00
Every two weeks$1,352.00
Twice a month$1,464.67
Monthly$2,929.33
Yearly (2,080 hours)$35,152.00
Take-home at the California minimum wage. 2026, single filer, blank 2020 W-4, paid every two weeks, no benefits.
LinePer year
Gross pay$35,152.00
Federal income tax$2,038.14
Social Security and Medicare$2,689.12
California state tax and payroll programs$884.63
Take-home pay$29,540.11
California compared with neighboring states and the federal rate
PlaceHourlyFull-time year
California minimum wage$16.90$35,152
Nevada minimum wage$12.00$24,960
Arizona minimum wage$15.15$31,512
Oregon minimum wage$15.55$32,344
Federal minimum wage$7.25$15,080

Watch it worked through

California Minimum Wage 2027: $17.40 an Hour (3:14)

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Questions

What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?

$16.90 an hour, effective January 1, 2026.

How much is the California minimum wage per year?

At $16.90 an hour, 40 hours a week and 52 weeks (2,080 hours), gross pay is $35,152.00 a year, $2,929.33 a month, or $1,352.00 every two weeks, before tax.

How much is minimum wage take-home pay in California?

For a single filer on a blank 2020 W-4 with no benefits, about $1,136.16 every two weeks, or $29,540 a year after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and California state tax.

Is the California minimum wage going up?

California Department of Industrial Relations, minimum wage FAQ did not list a later scheduled rate when this page was checked on October 19, 2026. The federal rate has been $7.25 since 2009.

Can a city or county set a higher minimum wage?

Yes. Some cities, counties, and industries (fast food, health care) have higher minimums. Employers owe the highest rate that applies where the work is done.

Who is responsible

Published by PaycheckZip.com. A credentialed reviewer has not signed this page. The review seat is open. Figures are estimates from the tables named in the method, checked 2026-10-09. They are not tax advice.

Case amounts on the public list, such as $216.15 of federal income tax on the single biweekly example, come from the same code as this page.