The minimum wage in Orange County, California, is $16.90 per hour as of January 1, 2026. Orange County has no county-wide wage ordinance, so the California state rate sets the floor for every employer, regardless of size.1California Department of Industrial Relations. Minimum Wage Workers in fast food, healthcare, and parts of the Anaheim Resort District earn more under separate laws, and tips cannot be used to offset any of these rates.
The $16.90 State Rate Applies Countywide
California raised its minimum wage from $16.50 to $16.90 on January 1, 2026.1California Department of Industrial Relations. Minimum Wage Because no city in Orange County and no county ordinance sets a higher general floor, $16.90 is the baseline hourly rate most workers in the county are entitled to. There is no separate tier for small employers. The rate adjusts automatically every January 1 based on the national CPI-W, capped at a 3.5 percent annual increase.2California Department of Finance. Minimum Wage Increase, Director of Finance Calculation of Adjustment
The federal minimum wage is still $7.25 per hour, and employers must pay whichever rate is higher.3U.S. Department of Labor. Consolidated Minimum Wage Table In Orange County, the California rate always controls.
Fast Food Workers Earn At Least $20.00 Per Hour
If you work at a fast food restaurant in Orange County, your minimum wage is $20.00 per hour under a law that took effect April 1, 2024.4California Department of Industrial Relations. Fast Food Council The rate applies at restaurants that are part of a national chain of at least 60 locations and that primarily serve food or drinks for immediate consumption. Burger chains, coffee shops, pizza franchises, and taco restaurants that hit the 60-location threshold typically qualify. Bakeries that mainly sell bread or pastries for later consumption generally do not.5California Department of Industrial Relations. Fast Food Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions
A state Fast Food Council can raise the rate each year by the lesser of 3.5 percent or the annual CPI change, with authority running through 2029.5California Department of Industrial Relations. Fast Food Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions Check the Department of Industrial Relations website for the current figure if you work in the industry.
Healthcare Workers Have Their Own Tiered Rates
Healthcare employees at covered Orange County facilities earn minimum wages set by Senate Bill 525, phased in on a schedule that eventually reaches $25.00 per hour for all covered workers.6California Department of Industrial Relations. Health Care Worker Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions The rate depends on the type and size of the facility.
- Large health systems (10,000 or more full-time employees) and dialysis clinics: $24.00 per hour through June 30, 2026, then $25.00 per hour starting July 1, 2026.
- Community clinics, rural health clinics, and urgent care clinics: $21.00 per hour through June 30, 2026, then $22.00 per hour, reaching $25.00 by July 2027.
- Other covered healthcare facilities: $21.00 per hour through June 30, 2026, then $23.00 per hour, reaching $25.00 by July 2028.
- Safety-net hospitals and rural independent facilities: a slower phase-in starting at $18.00 per hour, with 3.5 percent annual increases until reaching $25.00 by 2033.6California Department of Industrial Relations. Health Care Worker Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions
The law covers a wide range of roles, not just clinicians. Technicians, medical assistants, housekeeping, and other employees whose work supports patient care at a covered facility are included. Your facility’s classification determines your tier, so ask your employer which schedule applies if you’re unsure, or contact the Labor Commissioner’s Office.
Anaheim Resort District Living Wage
Some hospitality workers in Anaheim earn more than any of the figures above. Measure L, passed by Anaheim voters in 2018, requires hospitality businesses in the Anaheim Resort District to pay a living wage if they receive a tax rebate from the city.7Anaheim, CA – Official Website. Measure L It covers hotels, theme parks, restaurants, and retail stores inside or next to the Disneyland or Anaheim Resort specific plan zones that have such a rebate agreement and employ 25 or more workers.8Orange County Registrar of Voters. City of Anaheim, Initiative Ordinance to Increase Minimum Wage Payable by Certain Hospitality Industry Employers
The Measure L rate adjusts every January based on the local CPI, with a floor of at least 2 percent per year even if inflation is lower. Check with the City of Anaheim or your employer for the current hourly figure. The measure also bars covered employers from cutting other compensation to offset the higher wage, and it prohibits retaliation against workers who assert their rights. If a covered employer underpays, workers can sue in Superior Court for lost wages, damages, and attorney fees.8Orange County Registrar of Voters. City of Anaheim, Initiative Ordinance to Increase Minimum Wage Payable by Certain Hospitality Industry Employers
Tips Do Not Count Toward Minimum Wage
California does not allow a tip credit. If you earn tips at a restaurant, hotel, salon, or any other service business in Orange County, your employer must pay the full applicable minimum wage on top of whatever customers leave you.9California Department of Industrial Relations. Tips and Gratuities That rule applies to the $16.90 general rate, the $20.00 fast food rate, and every other industry-specific minimum.
Tips belong to you. Your employer cannot keep any portion of a gratuity a customer leaves, and cannot deduct credit card processing fees from tips charged on a card.9California Department of Industrial Relations. Tips and Gratuities Using tips to offset hourly pay violates state law.
If Your Employer Pays Less Than the Minimum
If your paycheck comes out below the rate that applies to your job, California law entitles you to recover the full unpaid balance plus interest and reasonable attorney fees.10California Legislative Information. California Labor Code 1194 You can also seek liquidated damages equal to the unpaid wages, which a court can reduce only if the employer proves the underpayment was an honest, good-faith mistake.11California Legislative Information. California Labor Code 1194.2
You have two paths. You can file a wage claim with the Labor Commissioner’s Office, which investigates and can order your employer to pay. Or you can file a lawsuit in court; many wage-and-hour attorneys take these cases on contingency, so you pay nothing upfront. Either way, you can generally go back three years for unpaid minimum wage.