Minimum wage increase coming to San Diego in 2026
People working for minimum wage in the city of San Diego will see more money in their paychecks starting Thursday, when the minimum wage rises from $17.25 to $17.75 an hour.
The city’s minimum wage is higher than California’s minimum wage, which will increase to $16.90 on Jan. 1, 2026.
What to know in 2026:
The change is part of the city’s Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, passed in 2016. Minimum wage has increased in the city since 2019 by an amount commensurate with the cost-of-living increase of the previous year.
As always, tips and gratuities do not count toward minimum wage. Employees will continue to earn sick leave, which can be used for their own medical care or for the medical care of a family member, but is not limited to those purposes. Employers may limit the use of sick leave to 40 hours in a benefit year per employee.
Every employer must post minimum wage notices in a conspicuous place at any workplace or job site.
San Diego’s Minimum Wage Program can be reached at SDMinWage@sandiego.gov or 619-235-5912 for questions or to file a complaint.
