Short answer. City of San Diego: $18.35 an hour from January 1, 2027 (2027 minimum wage notice, September 2026, and the city's historical rate table).
$18.35
San Diego minimum wage from January 1, 2027 (+$0.60, 3.4%)
San Diego minimum wage at a glance
- 2027 rate
- $18.35 an hour from January 1, 2027
- 2026 rate
- $17.75 an hour from January 1, 2026
- Change
- +$0.60 an hour (3.4%)
- California rate, 2027
- $17.40 an hour
- San Diego above California
- $0.95 an hour (5.5%) in 2027
- Kind of rate
- City ordinance
- Official page
- City of San Diego: minimum wage rates, historical table (September 2026)
San Diego rate history: 2026 to 2027
City of San Diego historical rate table: $17.75 from January 1, 2026. City of San Diego: $18.35 an hour from January 1, 2027 (2027 minimum wage notice, September 2026, and the city's historical rate table). That is $0.60 more an hour, a 3.4% increase, for hours worked in San Diego on or after January 1, 2027.
San Diego compared with the California minimum wage
The California general rate is $16.90 in 2026 and $17.40 in 2027. San Diego's $18.35 is $0.95 an hour, or 5.5%, above the state's 2027 rate; in 2026 the gap was $0.85. Over a 2,080-hour year that's $1,976 more than the state minimum for one full-time employee. See the California 2027 minimum wage page for the state rules.
What the San Diego rate means for pay
Weekly gross pay at the San Diego 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 $38,168 at the 2027 rate, against $36,920 at the 2026 rate and $36,192 at the California 2027 rate.
| Schedule | San Diego 2026 | San Diego 2027 | Difference | California 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full time, 40 hours | $710.00 | $734.00 | +$24.00 | $696.00 |
| Part time, 32 hours | $568.00 | $587.20 | +$19.20 | $556.80 |
| 45 hours (5 at time and a half) | $843.13 | $871.63 | +$28.50 | $826.50 |
For a staff list, the payroll change calculator works out raises against the California rate; compare its results with San Diego's $18.35 for anyone who works in San Diego.
Updating payroll for San Diego
- List everyone who works in San Diego and is paid under $18.35 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 $17.75.
- Replace the San Diego 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
- Palo Alto: $19.25 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 San Diego
- City of San Diego: minimum wage rates, historical table (September 2026) (checked November 2026)
- City of San Diego: 2027 minimum wage notice (September 2026) (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal or payroll advice; we are not lawyers or payroll advisers. Checked November 2026 against the official San Diego 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.
San Diego minimum wage questions
What is the San Diego minimum wage in 2027?
$18.35 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $17.75. City of San Diego: $18.35 an hour from January 1, 2027 (2027 minimum wage notice, September 2026, and the city's historical rate table).
How does the San Diego minimum wage compare with the California rate?
In 2027, San Diego is $0.95 an hour (5.5%) above the California rate of $17.40. In 2026 the gap was $0.85. Employers pay the San Diego rate for work done there.
How much is a full-time San Diego minimum wage job in 2027?
$734.00 a week for 40 hours, or about $38,168 a year at 2,080 hours, before taxes. That is $24.00 a week more than at the 2026 rate.
All localities: local minimum wage 2027 · California minimum wage 2027 · Minimum wage by state