San Francisco’s Minimum Wage Is Now $19.61 an Hour
San Francisco’s minimum wage rose to $19.61 an hour on July 1, 2026, up from $19.18. The increase is the city’s annual cost-of-living adjustment, which takes effect every July 1 based on the regional Consumer Price Index.
Who Gets the New Rate
The $19.61 rate applies to employees working within San Francisco city limits. The city sets separate rates for what it calls Government Supported Employees: $17.35 for most, with a small subset subject to a $16.97 rate. The Office of Labor Standards Enforcement administers the ordinance. Workers with questions about coverage or unpaid wages can reach the office at 415-554-6292 or [email protected].
How San Francisco Got Here
San Francisco voters approved the city’s first local minimum wage in 2003. A 2014 ballot initiative raised the wage in steps to $15 by July 1, 2018 and tied every increase after that to the Consumer Price Index. The adjustment has been automatic since then, which is why the number changes each summer without any new legislation.
Other Changes That Took Effect July 1
Two statewide changes landed on the same date. California’s health care worker minimum wage reached at least $25 an hour for workers at large hospital systems and dialysis clinics. And chain restaurants with 20 or more locations nationally must now list major allergens on their menus.
Full details, including the current official rate notice, are on the city’s Minimum Wage Ordinance page.
Photo: Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.