San Mateo County (unincorporated areas) minimum wage 2026

What to know about the San Mateo County (unincorporated areas) minimum wage

This page covers only the unincorporated parts of San Mateo County, the communities outside any of the county's cities. The Board of Supervisors adopted a minimum wage for these areas in November 2022, and the first rate, $16.50, took effect April 1, 2023.⁠¹ Because city and county boundaries are not always obvious on the ground, the county offers an interactive map for checking an address.⁠¹

Increases use the national Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), not a Bay Area index, and are capped at 3.5%. For 2027 the index rose 3.52%, so the cap applied and the rate goes up $0.63 to $18.58; the county published its employer bulletin on October 1, 2026.⁠²

The Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement opened in July 2025 and was then authorized to enforce the ordinance. For violations after July 10, 2025 it can impose penalties of up to $50 a day and 10% annual interest on back wages. Complaints can be filed within three years of the last violation, and the office keeps the identities of complainants and witnesses confidential.⁠¹

The ordinance covers full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal and on-call workers and minors who work at least two hours a week in the unincorporated area, wherever the employer is based. Independent contractors and some app-based drivers under Proposition 22 fall outside it.⁠¹ Employers must display the county's official notice at each workplace or job site.

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 San Mateo County (unincorporated areas), 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 San Mateo County (unincorporated areas) when they exceed the local rate: Fast food restaurant employees ($20.00); 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); Health care: safety net hospitals and small-county facilities ($19.28). See the California page for the rules.

Tipped employees

Employers may not count tips toward the county minimum wage.

How the rate changes

Each January 1 the rate rises by the August-to-August change in the national Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) or by 3.5%, whichever is lower (County Ordinance Code Chapter 5.158). The bulletin for 2027 was published October 1, 2026.

Inflation measured 3.52% from August 2025 to August 2026, so the 3.5% cap applied and the rate rises by $0.63.

Rate history

Who is covered

The county rate covers work done in unincorporated San Mateo County by anyone who works at least two hours a week there, wherever the employer is based. Full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal, on-call and minor workers are included regardless of immigration status. Independent contractors, some app-based drivers under Proposition 22, and an owner's parent, spouse or child are not covered, and the rate does not apply inside incorporated cities.

• The county Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement opened in July 2025. For violations after July 10, 2025 it can impose penalties of up to $50 a day and 10% annual interest on back wages, and complaints can be filed within three years.
• The office line is 415-363-9997; the free, confidential, multilingual Labor Advice Hotline is 1-866-870-7725 ([email protected]).
• Since December 1, 2025 the same office also enforces the minimum wages of several cities in the county, including San Mateo and Redwood City.
• Employers must post the county notice (Ordinance Code section 5.158.060).

Other local rates in California

• Emeryville$20.34
• 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
• 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
   County of San Mateo, Unincorporated minimum wage Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
2. 2
   County of San Mateo Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement, Employer Bulletin: 2027 Minimum Wage for Unincorporated San Mateo County (published October 1, 2026) Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
3. 3
   County of San Mateo, Minimum wage will rise to $17.95 an hour beginning New Year's Day in unincorporated San Mateo County Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
4. 4
   County of San Mateo, Official Notice: Unincorporated Areas of San Mateo County Minimum Wage, effective January 1, 2024 (PDF) Checked Oct 9, 2026 · Back to text ↑
5. 5
   County of San Mateo, 2026 minimum wage reference chart Checked Oct 9, 2026

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