Short answer. City of Hayward: large employers pay $18.39 an hour from January 1, 2027. The next scheduled increase is January 1, 2028.
$18.39
Hayward minimum wage from January 1, 2027 (+$0.60, 3.4%)
Hayward minimum wage at a glance
- 2027 rate
- $18.39 an hour from January 1, 2027
- 2026 rate
- $17.79 an hour
- Change
- +$0.60 an hour (3.4%)
- California rate, 2027
- $17.40 an hour
- Hayward above California
- $0.99 an hour (5.7%) in 2027
- Kind of rate
- City ordinance
- Official page
- City of Hayward: local minimum wage, frequently asked questions
Hayward rate history: 2026 to 2027
City of Hayward FAQ: $17.79 an hour for large employers (26 or more employees). City of Hayward: large employers pay $18.39 an hour from January 1, 2027. The next scheduled increase is January 1, 2028. That is $0.60 more an hour, a 3.4% increase, for hours worked in Hayward on or after January 1, 2027.
Who the Hayward rate covers
Hayward's local rate is for large employers, 26 or more employees, counting workers based outside Hayward. Businesses with 25 or fewer employees are small employers.
Hayward compared with the California minimum wage
The California general rate is $16.90 in 2026 and $17.40 in 2027. Hayward's $18.39 is $0.99 an hour, or 5.7%, above the state's 2027 rate; in 2026 the gap was $0.89. Over a 2,080-hour year that's $2,059 more than the state minimum for one full-time employee. See the California 2027 minimum wage page for the state rules.
Other Hayward rates by employer size
| Who | 2026 | 2027 | What the official page says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main rate (shown above) | $17.79 | $18.39 | City of Hayward: large employers pay $18.39 an hour from January 1, 2027. The next scheduled increase is January 1, 2028. |
| Small employers (25 or fewer employees) | Not stated | $17.40 | City of Hayward FAQ: small employers pay $17.40 from January 1, 2027, as set by California state law. |
What the Hayward rate means for pay
Weekly gross pay at the Hayward minimum, before taxes. Hours over 40 are paid at time and a half under federal overtime rules. A full-time year of 2,080 hours comes to about $38,251 at the 2027 rate, against $37,003 at the 2026 rate and $36,192 at the California 2027 rate.
| Schedule | Hayward 2026 | Hayward 2027 | Difference | California 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full time, 40 hours | $711.60 | $735.60 | +$24.00 | $696.00 |
| Part time, 20 hours | $355.80 | $367.80 | +$12.00 | $348.00 |
| 50 hours (10 at time and a half) | $978.45 | $1,011.45 | +$33.00 | $957.00 |
For a staff list, the payroll change calculator works out raises against the California rate; compare its results with Hayward's $18.39 for anyone who works in Hayward.
Updating payroll for Hayward
- List everyone who works in Hayward and is paid under $18.39 an hour, including part-time and seasonal staff and anyone who works there only some of the week.
- Decide which Hayward rate applies by employer size: small employers (25 or fewer employees).
- Set the new rate in payroll with an effective date of January 1, 2027, and split any pay period that crosses it so hours before the date stay at $17.79.
- Replace the Hayward minimum wage notice with the 2027 version from the official page.
For the California rules beyond the local minimum wage (new hire reporting, unemployment tax, final pay and more), the California Employer Compliance Kit 2027 ($19) has a checklist, a deadline calendar and an Excel tracker.
Other local rates in California
- Cupertino: $19.25 from January 1, 2027
- Daly City: $18.10 from January 1, 2027
- Foster City: $18.36 from January 1, 2027
- Half Moon Bay: $18.52 from January 1, 2027
- Palo Alto: $19.25 from January 1, 2027
- San Diego: $18.35 from January 1, 2027
- San Mateo: $19.25 from January 1, 2027
- San Mateo County (unincorporated): $18.58 from January 1, 2027
- 23 more with 2027 not yet announced, in the local minimum wage table
Official sources for Hayward
- City of Hayward: local minimum wage, frequently asked questions (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal or payroll advice; we are not lawyers or payroll advisers. Checked November 2026 against the official Hayward pages above. A city or county can change a rate after we check, and coverage, employer-size rules and exemptions differ from place to place. Before you change payroll, confirm the rate with the local labor standards office, your payroll provider or an employment attorney. MCC Solutions isn't affiliated with any government agency.
Hayward minimum wage questions
What is the Hayward minimum wage in 2027?
$18.39 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $17.79. City of Hayward: large employers pay $18.39 an hour from January 1, 2027. The next scheduled increase is January 1, 2028.
How does the Hayward minimum wage compare with the California rate?
In 2027, Hayward is $0.99 an hour (5.7%) above the California rate of $17.40. In 2026 the gap was $0.89. Employers pay the Hayward rate for work done there.
How much is a full-time Hayward minimum wage job in 2027?
$735.60 a week for 40 hours, or about $38,251 a year at 2,080 hours, before taxes. That is $24.00 a week more than at the 2026 rate.
Who does the Hayward minimum wage cover?
Hayward's local rate is for large employers, 26 or more employees, counting workers based outside Hayward. Businesses with 25 or fewer employees are small employers.
Do small employers in Hayward pay a different rate?
Small employers (25 or fewer employees): $17.40 in 2027. City of Hayward FAQ: small employers pay $17.40 from January 1, 2027, as set by California state law.
All localities: local minimum wage 2027 · California minimum wage 2027 · Minimum wage by state