San Francisco minimum wage in 2026

San Francisco’s minimum wage page comes from the city’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE). It says “Employees performing work in San Francisco, including part-time and temporary employees, must be paid no less than the San Francisco minimum wage.” The rate changes each July 1 “based on the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index.” A small group of “Government Supported Employees” has a different rate.

To ask a question or report a problem, the city’s page says to “fill out a complaint form, call 415-554-6292, or email mwo@sfgov.org.” The page is the city’s Minimum Wage Ordinance page.

Rates by type of work

Who the city rate covers

San Francisco sets its own minimum wage by city law. State law makes a local minimum wage binding. The Labor Code says the minimum wage “fixed by the commission or by any applicable state or local law, is the minimum wage to be paid to employees, and the payment of a lower wage than the minimum so fixed is unlawful” (Labor Code § 1197).

San Francisco’s own law decides who it covers; the San Francisco details above quote the city’s summary of it. Check San Francisco’s page, linked above.

The state minimum wage applies too. When the two differ, the Labor Commissioner says that “if a local entity (city or county) has adopted a higher minimum wage, employees must be paid the local wage where it is higher than the state or federal minimum wage rates.”

Some jobs have a higher state minimum wage. The Labor Commissioner says “There is a higher minimum wage for Fast Food Workers, effective April 1, 2024, and a higher minimum wage for certain Health Care Workers.” This page covers the city rate and the state rules that apply everywhere.

Tips and the minimum wage

Tips do not count toward the minimum wage in California. This is state law, so it applies in San Francisco.

• Your employer may not “require an employee to credit the amount, or any part thereof, of a gratuity against and as a part of the wages due” (Labor Code § 351(a)).
• Your employer may not “collect, take, or receive any gratuity or a part thereof,” or take money from your wages because of tips.
• “Every gratuity is hereby declared to be the sole property of the employee or employees to whom it was paid, given, or left for.”
• Tips paid by credit card must be paid to you in full, “without any deductions for any credit card payment processing fees,” and “not later than the next regular payday” after the customer paid.

Since January 1, 2026, the law also says “The Labor Commissioner may investigate and issue a citation or file a civil action for gratuities taken or withheld” (§ 351(b)).

If you’re paid less

Paying less than the minimum wage that applies to you “is unlawful” (Labor Code § 1197). An agreement to work for less does not cancel unpaid minimum wages. The law on recovering them applies “notwithstanding any agreement to work for a lesser wage” (§ 1194(a)).

1. Track your hours. The Labor Commissioner says to “Write down the time you begin and end work every day,” along with your breaks and total hours.
2. Keep every pay stub. Compare your hourly pay with the San Francisco rate for the dates you worked.
3. Check with the city. The San Francisco details near the top of this page link the city’s page and name its enforcement office.
4. File a wage claim with the state. The Labor Commissioner’s Office says “Workers in California have the right to file a wage claim when their employers do not pay them the wages or benefits they are owed.” Its page says to file “Within three years for violations of minimum wage.” See its How to File a Wage Claim page.
5. Know that complaining is protected. An employer may not fire or retaliate against you because you “made a written or oral complaint that they are owed unpaid wages” (Labor Code § 98.6(a)).

This page covers state law and the city’s rate. It is legal information, not legal advice.

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