On May 12, 2022, Governor Newsom announced that the state minimum wage could increase to $15.50 per hour on January 1, 2023 due to inflation. However, many California employers are already facing minimum wage increases much earlier – as many local jurisdictions throughout California are raising their minimum wage rates on July 1, 2022. Here is a list of some local city and counties in Southern California that are set to increase minimum wage rates on July 1, 2022:
| Local Government | Minimum Wage Rate as of July 1, 2022 | Resources |
| Los Angeles City | $16.04 | https://wagesla.lacity.org/ |
| Santa Monica | $15.96 | https://www.santamonica.gov/minimum-wage |
| West Hollywood | $16.50 for employers with 50 + employees; $16.00 for employers with fewer than 50 employees; $18.35 for hotel employees | https://www.weho.org/business/operate-your-business/minimum-wage |
As a reminder, the City of San Diego raises its minimum wage rate on January 1 of each year. Since January 1, 2022, the City of San Diego’s minimum wage is set at $15.00 per hour. More information about San Diego’s minimum wage rate can be found here: https://www.sandiego.gov/compliance/minimum-wage. Also, employers throughout California must review their local requirements – this is just a summary of Southern California increases.
Here are five items employers should consider prior to the July 1 deadline:
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