Emeryville minimum wage 2026

What to know about the Emeryville minimum wage

Emeryville's wage passed $20 an hour on July 1, 2026, when it rose from $19.90 to $20.34.⁠² It moves each July 1 by the March-to-March change in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose CPI-U, so each new figure is known only a few months before it applies.⁠³ Employers covered by California's $20.00 fast food minimum must pay whichever rate is higher.⁠¹

For several years the city ran two schedules. Businesses with 55 or fewer employees in Emeryville followed slower steps, from $12.25 in 2015 to $15.00 in 2018, until both groups reached $16.30 on July 1, 2019; small independent restaurants joined the common rate on July 10, 2019.⁠¹ The size line still matters for paid sick leave: at least 48 hours a year at small businesses and 72 hours at larger ones.⁠²

Restaurant and hotel workers have one more protection. Hospitality employers that add service charges to bills must give the whole charge to the workers who performed the service, unless they clearly disclose that it pays for other costs.⁠³ The Economic Development and Housing Division at 1333 Park Avenue takes complaints at [email protected], and workers may also sue for back pay and reinstatement. Employers must hand the yearly notice to every employee as well as post it.⁠²

All 2026 rates

Compared with California

When a local minimum wage, the state minimum wage and the federal minimum wage differ, the employer must pay the highest one that applies to the work. For most covered work in Emeryville, that is the local rate, but some jobs have a higher statewide minimum (see below the table).

California also sets higher statewide minimums for some jobs, which apply in Emeryville when they exceed the local rate: Health care: large systems, dialysis clinics and large-county facilities ($25.00); Health care: community, rural and intermittent clinics ($22.00); Health care: other covered facilities ($23.00). See the California page for the rules.

Tipped employees

Tipped workers get the full city rate before tips. Hospitality employers that add a service charge must pass all of it to the workers who did the service, unless the charge is clearly disclosed as going to other costs.

How the rate changes

Each July 1 the rate rises by the March-to-March change in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The city publishes the new rate and notice before July 1.

Rate history

Who is covered

Anyone who works at least two hours in a calendar week inside Emeryville and is entitled to the state minimum wage is covered, whether full-time, part-time or temporary and wherever the employer is located. Only work in the city counts; the employer's parents, spouse and children are not covered.

• Paid sick leave under the same chapter is at least 48 hours a year at businesses with 55 or fewer employees and 72 hours at larger ones.
• Before July 1, 2019 small businesses followed a slower schedule, from $12.25 in 2015 to $15.00 in 2018. Both sizes reached $16.30 on July 1, 2019; small independent restaurants joined on July 10, 2019.
• The notice, published in English, Chinese, Farsi, Spanish, Amharic and Thai, must be posted and given to every current and new employee.
• Complaints go to [email protected], with declaration forms in English and Spanish on the city site.

Other local rates in California

• West Hollywood$20.25
• Mountain View$19.70
• Berkeley$19.61
• San Francisco$19.61
• Sunnyvale$19.50
• Richmond$19.18
• Belmont$18.95
• El Cerrito$18.82
• Cupertino$18.70
• Los Altos$18.70
• Palo Alto$18.70
• Santa Clara$18.70
• Redwood City$18.65
• San Mateo$18.60
• Pasadena$18.57
• Milpitas$18.50
• Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas)$18.47
• Santa Monica$18.47
• Sonoma$18.47
• San Jose$18.45
• Los Angeles$18.42
• Petaluma$18.31
• Santa Rosa$18.21
• South San Francisco$18.15
• Fremont$18.05
• San Mateo County (unincorporated areas)$17.95
• Half Moon Bay$17.91
• Malibu$17.91
• East Palo Alto$17.90
• Burlingame$17.86
• Foster City$17.85
• Hayward$17.79
• Alameda$17.76
• San Carlos$17.75
• San Diego$17.75
• Novato$17.73
• Menlo Park$17.55
• Daly City$17.50
• Oakland$17.34

Everywhere else in California, the state rate applies.

Get help or file a claim

If you are paid less than the minimum wage that applies to your job, you can file a wage claim with the agency below. Federal law prohibits firing or otherwise retaliating against a worker for complaining about federal minimum wage rights.

Sources

1. 1
   City of Emeryville, Minimum Wage Ordinance Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
2. 2
   City of Emeryville, Official Notice: City of Emeryville Minimum Wage & Paid Sick Leave, effective July 1, 2026 ($20.34) Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
3. 3
   City of Emeryville, Minimum Wage, Paid Sick Leave and Service Charge FAQs (updated December 2023) Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑

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