California minimum wage 2025 fast food. 5% bump would increase the minimum wage to $20.
California minimum wage 2025 fast food. ” Now, California has made a $20 minimum wage a reality, at least for workers at large fast-food chains. 70. 00 per hour. 5%, to keep up with the pace of inflation More than 1,000 small business owners and franchisee owners have signed a letter addressed to Gov. Dec 11, 2024 · While California voters rejected a ballot measure that would have raised the state's minimum wage to $18 by 2026, several cities across the Bay Area are increasing the minimum wage on Jan. This increase would raise the minimum wage to $20. This was the result of Assembly Bill 1229 which established the Fast-Food Council. Jul 23, 2025 · First came the farfetched “Fight for $15. 1228 enacted a $20 minimum wage and standards-setting council for California’s fast food industry. 5% Increase in Food Prices: Since the legislation mandating the $20 minimum wage for fast food workers was signed in September 2023, food prices at California’s local restaurants have increased by 14. To come up with robust information, you need to have large market data Jan 6, 2025 · Starting January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in California is set at $16. 5% or match Apr 1, 2024 · “One year after California’s $20 minimum wage for fast food workers took effect, the impacts are undeniable: thousands of jobs lost, higher food prices and growing uncertainty for family-owned local restaurants,” added Molly Weedn of Weedn Public Affairs. 50 in 2025, with higher rates for fast food and healthcare workers. Therefore, the above raises will remain in place. Apr 10, 2025 · One year in, California’s $20 minimum wage for fast food workers is lifting boats but still debated Employees at fast food chains like Wendy’s are enjoying the pay raise while economists trade Jul 1, 2025 · For instance, fast-food workers are entitled to a minimum wage of $20. California has special minimum wage rates for specific sectors: - As of April 1, 2024, fast food workers must be paid at least $20. Sep 15, 2023 · The deal will mean a wage floor of $20 for California workers at fast-food chains with at least 60 locations nationwide, starting April 1. Jul 16, 2025 · As employment ticked up in other states, the California law transferred wealth from fast food workers who lost their jobs to those who didn’t. Labor Commissioner's Office Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions * The UC Berkeley Labor Center keeps a detailed national list of local minimum wage ordinances. The federal minimum wage is $7. This policy brief represents the second in a series of reports on the effects of California’s $20 fast-food minimum wage. A. 50 per hour for 2025. 6 days ago · Effective January 1, 2026, California’s minimum wage increases to $16. 2023) and Healthcare Facility Jan 30, 2025 · The beginning of a new year often brings a slate of laws and amendments that go into effect across California. Jul 18, 2025 · Now, even more evidence confirms the $20 minimum wage law has been harmful for employees and restaurants. Dec 27, 2024 · California’s minimum wage is rising again, with some cities offering higher rates. The $4 per hour raise represents the largest single minimum wage increase a state government has ever implemented. Soon after Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of the law, restaurants, customers, and employees alike began bracing for its impacts, even before April. 50/hour. com Jul 16, 2025 · However, from April 2024, when the $20 fast food minimum wage went into effect, to May 2025, when the EPI released their findings, the median usual weekly hours decreased to 35, May 7, 2025 · The California fast food minimum wage will rise to $20 per hour in April 2025, affecting many workers statewide. Learn about new labor laws on paid leave, workplace meetings, and exemptions. Feb 25, 2025 · New study shows that increase of California minimum wage from $16 to $20 has negatively impacted fast food workers and customers in increase in job losses Abstract This policy brief represents the second in a series of reports on the effects of California’s $20 fast-food minimum wage. Jul 25, 2025 · In April 2024, California implemented a landmark law that raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers at large chains to $20 an hour. In Los Angeles, the minimum wage is $17. Economists are divided over the effect on employment, while workers earn more Nov 12, 2024 · In addition, the minimum wage increases to $23 per hour for many health care workers effective July 1, 2025. 49% increase from the current rate of $16. Here’s the latest on the debate. 50 for workers in specific industries or in certain California places. The increase to $20 minimum wage for fast food workers went into effect in April of 2024. Sep 28, 2023 · On September 28, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) No. 5% or the increase in the consumer price index, whichever is smaller. 1228’s requirements. Mar 8, 2025 · AB 1228 was signed into law in October 2023 by Governor Gavin Newsom, creating the new $20 minimum wage for fast food employees – a massive 25% increase from the $16 minimum wage. The minimum wage for fast food workers increased to $20 per hour effective April 1, 2024. Healthcare Workers: Starting July 1, 2025, healthcare workers will see their minimum wage increase to $23 per hour, with scheduled increments in subsequent years. The minimum wage in California, effective January 1, 2025, is $16. Dec 11, 2024 · For example, in April, fast-food workers saw their minimum wage increase to $20 an hour. On February 27, 2025, the California Globe reported another minimum wage hike for the state’s fast-food industry within the next few months. The pay raise is based on increases in the Consumer Price Jan 23, 2025 · On January 1, 2025, the statewide minimum wage increased to $16. May 2, 2025 · The results have been mixed after California raised the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour in 2024. 50/hour for all employers. Between September 2023 and April 2024, over 10,000 jobs were cut ahead of implementation. Starting January 1, 2025, the council has the option to raise the minimum wage for fast-food workers by up to 3. Jul 26, 2025 · National Bureau of Economic Research study finds California lost thousands of fast food jobs following the $20 minimum wage increase implemented in April 2024. California’s 2025 minimum wage law raises hourly rates statewide, while many cities and industries apply separate local pay rules. The $20 minimum wage represents a $4 increase, making it the largest minimum wage increase in recent U. The $20 per hour minimum wage went into effect on April 1, 2024. Employers should note the council discussed a Sep 28, 2023 · Establishes a minimum wage of $20 per hour for fast-food workers beginning April 1, 2024 and allows the council to increase this wage annually. Following the April 1, 2024, minimum wage increase to $20 per hour (as previously covered here), fast-food operators have struggled with higher labor costs, price increases, job losses, and store closures. The restaurant owners said since the wage hike, they’ve cut back hours, slowed growth and reduced certain benefits. Twenty-one states are implementing minimum wage increases in 2025, affecting millions of workers nationwide, while California leads the Oct 3, 2024 · The study, released as California’s Fast Food Council considers further wage increases in 2025, presents compelling evidence that the $20 hourly wage has significantly raised worker earnings without job losses or concerning price hikes. 50 per hour, with the goal of improving the welfare of the state's workers. This obligation as a Mar 3, 2025 · California's fast food council has scarcely discussed any regulations other than another potential minimum wage increase. The Department of Industrial Relations does not monitor or verify this list but includes it here as a reference for the public: UC Berkeley Labor Center Inventory of US City and County Minimum Wage Ordinances December 2024 In addition, the legislation establishes a Fast Food Council within DIR to establish an hourly minimum wage for fast food restaurant employees and develop standards, rules, and regulations for the fast food industry. 2%). 90/hour, a 2. For many, it was a long-overdue win in the fight for a living wage. With the change in the statewide minimum wage, the minimum exempt salary for California employees rose from $66,560 to Oct 19, 2023 · The basic takeaways of AB 1228 include that, effective April 1, 2024, the hourly wage for most fast-food and fast-casual restaurant workers increases to $20 per hour, with the Fast Food Council to set annual wages thereafter beginning in 2025 and through 2029, subject to a yearly increase cap tied to the Consumer Price Index. 50 per hour for all employers, regardless of company size. Minimum Wage increase announced for 2026 in California. But local governments don’t stop there—many update wages mid-year based on inflation or local ordinance. 1, 2025. While anecdotal data, including the closure of legacy fast-food chain stores in California, has made headlines, we are now able to use empirical data to track the law’s impacts on jobs and the economy. 00 per hour under AB1228, which may be increased soon in 2025. For hours worked on or after January 1, 2026, the new California minimum wage will be $16. *Data note: Fast food workers represent roughly half of restaurant workers excluding tipped workers such as bartenders, servers, hosts and hostesses, and busboys and bar backs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, the minimum salary for full-time exempt employees increases to $68,640 per year in 2025. Jan 7, 2025 · The union representing fast food workers wants to hike the minimum wage above $20 an hour to $20. Jan 1, 2025 · On January 1, 2025, the statewide minimum wage increased to $16. 25, 2025 As the one-year anniversary of California’s Jun 6, 2025 · Key Facts: 36,565 fast food jobs have been lost in California since AB 1228 was signed into law in September 2023. 18% adjustment based on inflation. The Department of Industrial Relations does not monitor or verify this list but includes it here as a reference for the public: UC Berkeley Labor Center Inventory of US City and County Minimum Wage Ordinances December 2024 SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKE NOTICE that on April 4, 2016, the Governor of California signed legislation passed by the California Legislature, raising the minimum wage for all industries. 23 meeting to object to plans for another minimum wage increase in the fast-food industry. Members Jan 23, 2025 · On January 1, 2025, the statewide minimum wage increased to $16. ) The […] The minimum wage in California, effective January 1, 2025, is $16. In unadjusted data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, we find that employment in California's fast food sector declined by 2. com. May 2, 2025 · Updated: May 2, 2025 / 09:05 PM PDT It’s been over a year since California raised the minimum wage for fast-food employees from $16 to $20 per hour, the highest of any state in the nation. Nov 13, 2024 · LA Times Today: The latest info on California’s $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers — higher pay, no job losses and minimal price hikes Watch L. 50 for employers of all sizes, reflecting a 3. 50 per hour, but it may vary depending on your industry, city or type of employment This is the minimum wage in California for different sectors. Feb 26, 2025 · 14. 50 for all workers. But over a year later, the results have been mixed—and a new study suggests that thousands of workers may have lost their jobs as a result. Dec 5, 2024 · California fast food restaurants shed more than 6,000 jobs after Democratic lawmakers passed a bill mandating a $20 minimum wage for most fast food and counter service restaurants in the state Dec 26, 2024 · The minimum wage is already higher than $16. Oct 9, 2024 · The wage increase was part of a California law that took effect in April and also established a Fast Food Council to regulate labor standards for chains that have more than 60 locations nationwide. Getting a wide array of data like wage hikes in industries all on your own is a taxing job. The annual wage increase is capped at the lesser of 3. Employees of the fast food industry now make a minimum wage of $20 an hour, while certain health care workers make a minimum wage that ranges from $18 to $23. May 20, 2025 · The data is clear: the real culprit taking pay away from California’s employees is the skyrocketing minimum wage mandates. May 2, 2025 · Controversy continues to swirl around California’s minimum wage requirements with a recent study prompting a counter study from academic circles and business owners doubling down on criticism of Jan 6, 2025 · California's minimum wage in 2025 increased to $16. 58 to $56. ” Well, the results are in. Fast food employees – $20 per hour, effective April 1, 2024 for covered workers Healthcare workers – $18-23 per hour effective October 16. The current report draws from the same data sources, but now through mid-December 2024, and from new data May 1, 2025 · It’s been a year, and California fast food workers may soon see another gift coming their way, as the debate heats up on fast food wage increases. Enacted to raise Sep 12, 2024 · Fast food workers are seeking an inflationary adjustment for 2025. The California Fast Food Council, comprised of fast-food workers, restaurant Feb 19, 2025 · After years of political battles over fast food wages and the status of franchises, California still lacks objective research. Mar 28, 2025 · The Council, made up of fast food workers, government appointees, and industry leaders, is authorized to increase the wage annually by either 3. Feb 26, 2025 · One year after California introduced a first-of-its-kind $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers, an increase of up to 70 cents is slated for a vote. CDF protects California employers of all sizes and all types of industries in labor, employment and immigration matters while marrying big-firm, big-case background with the value of a specialty-focused firm. 00/hour, increasing annually until $25. As of early 2025, California’s minimum wage for qualifying fast-food workers is $20. Jan 13, 2025 · In California, the raise in the minimum wage for fast-food workers from $16 to $20 was signed into law by Gov. Mar 9, 2025 · California – Following California Governor Gavin Newsom’s legislation raising the minimum pay for fast food workers to $20, new Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows a notable drop in employment in the industry. Employers must ensure payroll systems and salaries comply with these rules and post notices to keep workers informed. Computer professional ’s minimum hourly rate of pay has been adjusted from $55. California has special minimum wage rates for specific sectors. Feb 18, 2025 · State Fast Food Council to Weigh Placing Another Wage Hike on the Agenda at February 26 Meeting as Job Losses and Food Prices Surge Sacramento, CA – A new study released today by the Berkeley Research Group (BRG) found a series of harsh downstream impacts resulting from California’s increase to Feb 24, 2025 · National fast food employers with a presence in California will also want to review their wage and hour practices to make sure they are in compliance with A. 50 per hour. 00/hour. Fast food & healthcare industries have higher minimum wages. With the change in the statewide minimum wage, the minimum exempt salary for California employees rose from $66,560 to $68,640 per year. Most recently, a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research confirms what our EPI research forewarned – AB1228 is doing more harm than good for fast food workers in California. 2024 for covered workers depending on the type of facility Feb 26, 2025 · Reuters FILE PHOTO: California fast food workers hold a rally as they celebrate their minimum wage increase to $20 an hour during an event in Los Angeles, California, U. A new law is pushing the hourly wage to $20, which has stirred both relief and anxiety depending on which side of the counter you’re on. 50 per hour as of January 1, 2025. The law was signed in September 2023 and went into effect starting April 1, 2024. A new law is pushing the hourly wage to $20, which has Jan 27, 2025 · Fast-Food Workers: As of April 2024, fast-food employees have been entitled to a $20 per hour minimum wage. Dec 20, 2024 · Fast food restaurant employees must be paid at least $20. 25 per hour, and has not changed Mar 14, 2025 · New analysis from the Employment Policies Institute of quarterly data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that California has lost as many as 16,000 jobs since the state’s $20 fast food minimum wage law was signed in September 2023. Dec 18, 2024 · On January 1, 2025, the California state minimum wage, excluding fast food industry employers and certain healthcare facilities, will increase from $16. 00 per hour—by far the highest of any state in the country. Find out what the exact amount will be when the pay hike goes into effect in 2025. 50 per hour for all employers. As a reminder, for the first time ever, a separate fast food minimum wage of $20/hour was established for fast food workers at chains with over 60 locations nationally as of April 1, 2024. 50 for employers of all Sep 28, 2023 · California’s minimum wage is currently $15. 12. California’s AB 1228 sets a $20 hourly minimum wage for qualifying fast food workers starting April 1, 2024. In unadjusted data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, we find that employment in California's fast food Sep 12, 2024 · In person and over Zoom, franchise owners packed a meeting of the state’s new fast food council on Wednesday, urging it not to adopt any further increases in the industry’s minimum wage after the April hike from $16 to $20 for limited-service restaurants — a 25% increase. on Spectrum News 1 We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. , April 5, 2024. Apr 5, 2025 · California's controversial $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers has resulted in significant job losses according to newly revised employment data, contradicting earlier studies that claimed Aug 1, 2024 · Four months after California boosted the minimum wage for fast food-workers from $16 to $20 an hour, the union representing hundreds of thousands of employees is asking for another raise. A higher minimum wage results in higher meal and rest period premiums, higher reporting time pay, higher split shift premiums, and higher waiting time penalties. 00/hour in * The UC Berkeley Labor Center keeps a detailed national list of local minimum wage ordinances. Now, the Fast Food Council is considering another increase to $20. Dec 22, 2024 · 2025 California minimum wage: Here's which cities in the Bay Area and LA area will be seeing a pay bump in their minimum wage rate on Jan. Sep 28, 2023 · From 2025 through 2029, the council is authorized to increase the hourly minimum wage for fast food workers each year by a maximum of either 3. By Lisa Jennings on Feb. For employers in the fast food industry, California Labor Code sections 1474 to 1476 continue to require that non-exempt hourly fast food restaurant employees be paid a minimum wage of US$20. Executive Summary A. 3. California’s minimum wage will be increasing in 2026. Local minimum wage rates also vary across California cities, with some surpassing the new state baseline. 7 percent relative to employment in the fast food sector elsewhere in Jun 11, 2025 · Learn the 2025 minimum wage rates for California and Los Angeles, including city-specific increases, fast-food and healthcare industry wages. (The state is down nearly 14,000 jobs since the law officially took effect in April 2024. of the California Labor Code. 90/hour, with higher rates for fast-food and certain municipal and healthcare workers We analyze the effect of California's $20 fast food minimum wage, which was enacted in September 2023 and went into effect in April 2024, on employment in the fast food sector. Feb 28, 2025 · The current minimum wage for fast food workers is $20, so a 70-cent increase would bring pay up to $20. 50) for other workers. Dec 3, 2024 · Is your business prepared for the 2025 minimum wage changes? With wage increases taking effect on January 1, 2025, staying informed is essential to ensure compliance and manage labor costs effectively. Feb 25, 2025 · After the minimum wage for restaurant chain workers increased to $20 per hour last year, workers are pushing for a cost-of-living increase up to 3. Apr 1, 2024 · What is the new law that raises the minimum wage for fast food employees? AB 1228 is a new law in California, which added sections 1474, 1475, and 1476 to the Labor Code and does two main things. And from 2025 through 2029, the appointed council will Jan 1, 2025 · Updates to Minimum Wage Requirements for the Fast-Food industry: Effective April 1, 2024, the minimum wage for fast-food workers at certain chain establishments increased to $20 per hour. On January 1, 2025, workers across California will receive a slight pay bump: the minimum wage will increase from $16 to $16. Information on public meetings will be posted on this page in 2024. * The UC Berkeley Labor Center keeps a detailed national list of local minimum wage ordinances. Apr 18, 2025 · Minimum wage rates in industries Prior to the release of minimum wage in California (2025), two sectors have already increased their wages in April and October 2024. This rate will continue to apply in 2025. m. 28, joining dozens of other localities with minimum wages higher Dec 12, 2024 · Employers should also note the increased wages under California’s fast food employee minimum wage law, effective April 1, 2024, and the health care worker minimum wage law, effective October 16, 2024. Dec 5, 2024 · Employers should also note the increased wages under California’s fast food employee minimum wage law, effective April 1, 2024, and the health care worker minimum wage law, effective October 16, 2024. Nov 4, 2024 · IRLE’s claim that price increases have merely been “modest” relies on data from just two weeks prior and two weeks after the minimum wage hike took effect on April 1, 2024. 1228 into law, repealing the FAST Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act (FAST Recovery Act) (AB 257) and replacing it with a $20-per-hour minimum wage for fast food workers, among other provisions. Nov 8, 2024 · Minimum Wage in 2025 Even if Proposition 32 fails, the California minimum wage will still increase on January 1, 2025 pursuant to existing law. Following the passage of the increase to the minimum wage for specified fast food workers, much attention has been paid to the impacts the wage increase will have on jobs. Gavin Newsom, asking to keep wages Aug 11, 2025 · The California Governor's Office has disputed the findings of a July 2025 study which reports that California's 2024 minimum wage increase to $20 for fast food workers cost the state 18,000 jobs, while a UC Berkeley study found no negative effects on fast-food employment and price increases of about 1. S. Discover key compliance tips for employers, including fast food and exempt salary thresholds. 70 per hour, with a final vote expected in April or May Jun 20, 2025 · Effective July 1, 2025, several California cities and counties will implement minimum wage increases, including industry-specific adjustments in certain jurisdictions. Alongside establishing a first-in-the nation Fast Food Council, the state raised the minimum wage for California fast food workers to $20/hour efective April 1, 2024. Dec 19, 2024 · And the minimum pay rate for hourly-paid licensed physicians who are exempt from overtime premium will increase to $103. 5%. 1% increase, which is based on the expected rate of inflation. For example, in April, fast-food workers saw their minimum wage increase to $20 Jun 26, 2025 · Summer is in full swing and California employers should be aware of several July 1 local area minimum wage increases, as well as minimum wage requirements in the healthcare industry. Statewide, the increase is estimated to affect more than 500,000 workers. 50/hour statewide. As previously described, California voters rejected Proposition 32, a stair-step-increased minimum wage initiative. 00 per hour effective July 1, 2025. However, research reviewing from when the bill passed in September 2023 to its implementation in April 2024 found California’s fast food menu prices rose over 10%. The current report draws from the same data sources, but now through mid-December 2024, and from new data sources that ABSTRACT We analyze the effect of California's $20 fast food minimum wage, which was enacted in September 2023 and went into effect in April 2024, on employment in the fast food sector. A new council will meet to discuss pay adjustments and workplace rules across covered fast food restaurant locations. Employers must also display a new fast food minimum wage supplement and updated wage orders, specifically Wage Orders 5 and/or 7, at the workplace. This new rate applies to all employers, regardless of size. 70 per hour. 5% or the annual change in the consumer price index The minimum wage in California, effective January 1, 2025, is $16. ) and, in 2023, raised the minimum wage payable by certain Fast Food Restaurant employers (AB 1228, Stats. Oct 21, 2024 · It’s been six months since minimum wage for workers at large fast food chains in California went from $16 to $20 an hour. 5% —nearly double the national average (8. These are the fast-food restaurants and the healthcare facilities. Mar 27, 2024 · Be on the lookout for any future fast food worker minimum wage increases by the Fast Food Council starting January 1, 2025, and check for any other updates regarding minimum standards from the Fast Food Council. The Council can make future minimum wage increases affecting fast-food workers. This law applies to national fast-food chains with more than 60 establishments nationwide. The pay hike took effect in April 2024, joining the state’s broader minimum wage of $16 (now $16. Fast food workers are seeking an inflationary adjustment for 2025. A July 2025 report from the National Bureau of Jan 1, 2025 · As of today, January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in California will increase significantly to $16. 75 per hour. However, several local jurisdictions have set higher rates effective July 1, 2025. 70 an hour — which represents a 3. Jul 3, 2025 · California’s statewide minimum wage is currently $16. Fast Food Restaurant employers, effective April 1, 2024, and Healthcare Facility employers, effective October 16, 2024 (see below), have a higher minimum wage. Several new 2025 laws relating to the food and restaurant industry, including minimum Jul 31, 2024 · The California Fast Food Workers Union is urging the state to again raise the minimum wage for fast-food employees. First, it increases the minimum wage for “fast food restaurant employees. Mar 4, 2025 · The special rule for fast-food workers means they already get more than the state minimum wage, which is $16. Fast Food Worker Minimum Wage Updates Fast food workers in California saw a significant wage increase to $20 per hour starting April 1, 2024, under AB 1228. A 3. Jul 26, 2024 · California officials are reportedly considering a further increase to the recently implemented $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers. Restaurants operating within these areas need to ensure they are compliant with the updated wage requirements. - Starting June 1, 2024, many healthcare facility workers must be paid $23. 5 days ago · The minimum wage in California for 2025 is $16. In addition to the statewide minimum wage, certain industries in California, such as the fast food and healthcare industries, have their own minimum wage requirements that exceed the Feb 25, 2025 · In late 2023, California supersized the minimum wage for fast food workers by a whopping 25 percent (increasing it from $16 to $20). The California Fast Food Council has the authority to raise the fast-food minimum wage effective January 1, 2025, but so far has not acted to do so. Jul 6, 2025 · Starting January 1, 2025, California’s statewide minimum wage is $16. Oct 9, 2024 · By comparing California fast food workers with their counterparts in retail jobs or employed at the same firms outside of California, we provide strong evidence of the effects of the new California minimum wage above and beyond industry and labor market trends. Employers must follow updated wage requirements for hourly, exempt, tipped, fast-food, and healthcare workers across California. Dec 27, 2024 · On January 1, 2025, California’s state minimum wage will increase to $16. Apr 1, 2024 · Members of California’s Fast Food Council were not deterred by a chorus of franchise owners who gathered at a Jan. For additional details on exempt employee classifications, see our previous article. 50 per hour starting January 1, reflecting a 3. Feb 28, 2025 · California’s fast-food industry is once again at a crossroads. With the change in the statewide minimum wage, the minimum exempt salary for California employees rose from $66,560 to The California minimum wage for 2025 is set at $16. Mar 20, 2025 · Starting in 2025, fast food workers across California will see a noticeable change in their paychecks. 50, with fast‑food workers earning a minimum of $20 per hour, and certain healthcare employees reaching $25 per hour. Apr 1, 2024 · California also enforces prevailing minimum wage laws specific to certain industries, such as fast food and healthcare. Jun 5, 2025 · New Federal Data Reveals California Has Lost Over 36,000 Fast Food Jobs Since $20 Minimum Wage Law ‘These aren’t just numbers; they’re real people who lost their livelihoods’ By Evan Symon, June 5, 2025 1:51 pm Jul 16, 2025 · The post California's Minimum Wage Hike Cost 18,000 Fast-Food Jobs as Employment Ticked Up in Other States appeared first on Reason. 5% bump would increase the minimum wage to $20. Despite what some Key Points California has been at the vanguard of progressive and innovative protections for fast food workers. This law was opposed by the fast food industry, while labor unions (and their many friends and admirers in Sacramento) insisted it would “benefit workers. May 15, 2025 · California minimum wage 2025 increases to $16. 5% or the annual increase in the US-CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. Mar 3, 2025 · CALIFORNIA – The California Fast Food Council, voted on February 26, to consider a 70-cent increase for fast-food workers, as reported by Reuters. Sep 5, 2024 · In addition to the minimum wage increase, a new “Fast-Food Council” meets monthly to develop standards and future minimum wage increases for the fast-food industry. Jul 17, 2025 · New research claims California's $20 fast food wage law triggered job losses, reduced hours, and accelerated automation across the restaurant sector. Times Today at 8 p. Oct 1, 2024 · The study, released as California’s Fast Food Council considers further wage increases in 2025, presents compelling evidence that the $20 hourly wage has significantly raised worker earnings without job losses or concerning price hikes. 00 per hour (effective April 1, 2024); California's minimum wage rises to $16. B. Local governments may require higher wages, and some industries like fast food and healthcare have their own higher minimums. (SB 3, Stats of 2016, amending section 1182. Below are some of the minimum wages applicable to specific industries: California’s Industry Specific Minimum Wages: • Non-Exempt Fast-Food Workers: $20. Also, certain healthcare workers will see their minimum wage increase to $24. history Apr 7, 2025 · New research published by Pepperdine University is attempting to settle the debate over whether boosting California’s minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour has led to job losses Jun 25, 2025 · The minimum wage for fast food workers, which, at $20, is higher than the state’s general minimum wage rate, will not increase on July 1. Gavin Newsom (D) on September 28, 2023, and went into effect on April 1, 2024. 00 per hour to $16. Jan 1, 2025 · The minimum wage in California is set to increase in the new year. About 16,000 jobs have been lost since AB 1228 was adopted in April 2024, raising serious questions on how wage regulations affect employment stability. . But employers contend another wage hike would be a business killer. ” See full list on pacificpayrollgroup. 5% increase. The first report, issued on September 30, 2024, used early data to generate preliminary estimates of the policy’s impacts in its first three months. Jun 13, 2025 · As of January 1, 2025, California’s statewide minimum wage rose to $16. The landscape of state minimum wage increases in the fast food industry in 2025 marks a pivotal shift in labor compensation across the United States, with unprecedented changes reshaping the quick-service restaurant sector and workforce compensation standards. Feb 10, 2025 · What You Need To Know In California, fast-food workers saw a major pay increase in April 2024, with wages rising to a minimum of $20 an hour Now, the state’s Fast Food Council is considering another increase of up to 3. 97, effective January 1, 2025. jlnaygaevaxhpqhhdvymvfakzzfnbeigdpwqilqyvxfwazyrpuji