Short answer. City of Palo Alto: the minimum wage rate is $19.25 an hour effective January 1, 2027.
$19.25
Palo Alto minimum wage from January 1, 2027 (+$0.55, 2.9%)
Palo Alto minimum wage at a glance
- 2027 rate
- $19.25 an hour from January 1, 2027
- 2026 rate
- $18.70 an hour from January 1, 2026
- Change
- +$0.55 an hour (2.9%)
- California rate, 2027
- $17.40 an hour
- Palo Alto above California
- $1.85 an hour (10.6%) in 2027
- Kind of rate
- City ordinance
- Official page
- City of Palo Alto: Minimum Wage
Palo Alto rate history: 2026 to 2027
City of Palo Alto FAQ: $18.70 an hour as of January 1, 2026. City of Palo Alto: the minimum wage rate is $19.25 an hour effective January 1, 2027. That is $0.55 more an hour, a 2.9% increase, for hours worked in Palo Alto on or after January 1, 2027.
Palo Alto compared with the California minimum wage
The California general rate is $16.90 in 2026 and $17.40 in 2027. Palo Alto's $19.25 is $1.85 an hour, or 10.6%, above the state's 2027 rate; in 2026 the gap was $1.80. Over a 2,080-hour year that's $3,848 more than the state minimum for one full-time employee. See the California 2027 minimum wage page for the state rules.
What the Palo Alto rate means for pay
Weekly gross pay at the Palo Alto 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 $40,040 at the 2027 rate, against $38,896 at the 2026 rate and $36,192 at the California 2027 rate.
| Schedule | Palo Alto 2026 | Palo Alto 2027 | Difference | California 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full time, 40 hours | $748.00 | $770.00 | +$22.00 | $696.00 |
| Part time, 28 hours | $523.60 | $539.00 | +$15.40 | $487.20 |
| 50 hours (10 at time and a half) | $1,028.50 | $1,058.75 | +$30.25 | $957.00 |
For a staff list, the payroll change calculator works out raises against the California rate; compare its results with Palo Alto's $19.25 for anyone who works in Palo Alto.
Updating payroll for Palo Alto
- List everyone who works in Palo Alto and is paid under $19.25 an hour, including part-time and seasonal staff and anyone who works there only some of the week.
- 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 $18.70.
- Replace the Palo Alto 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
- Hayward: $18.39 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 Palo Alto
- City of Palo Alto: Minimum Wage (checked November 2026)
- County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency: minimum wage in Santa Clara County (2026 chart) (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal or payroll advice; we are not lawyers or payroll advisers. Checked November 2026 against the official Palo Alto 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.
Palo Alto minimum wage questions
What is the Palo Alto minimum wage in 2027?
$19.25 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $18.70. City of Palo Alto: the minimum wage rate is $19.25 an hour effective January 1, 2027.
How does the Palo Alto minimum wage compare with the California rate?
In 2027, Palo Alto is $1.85 an hour (10.6%) above the California rate of $17.40. In 2026 the gap was $1.80. Employers pay the Palo Alto rate for work done there.
How much is a full-time Palo Alto minimum wage job in 2027?
$770.00 a week for 40 hours, or about $40,040 a year at 2,080 hours, before taxes. That is $22.00 a week more than at the 2026 rate.
All localities: local minimum wage 2027 · California minimum wage 2027 · Minimum wage by state