By Jessica Roy
San Francisco Chronicle, January 1, 2026
Low-wage workers across California are set to get a raise in the new year. ... Starting Jan. 1, the minimum wage in California will be $16.90. ...
Some municipalities in California have higher wage floors. San Francisco is one of them: The hourly minimum wage in the city is $19.18 an hour and is not set to increase again until July. For some industries, California sets the wage floor higher as well: Certain California health care workers earn a minimum of $24 an hour, and fast food workers make a minimum of $20 an hour. ...
Aaron Seyedian, the owner of cleaning service Well-Paid Maids, which operates in San Francisco and other cities, cheered the upcoming increase. Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, an organization that educates business owners about the benefits of increased wages, quoted him in a press release:
“When you compensate employees fairly, they stay with you, which saves significantly on recruitment and training costs while delivering the consistent, high-quality service our clients expect,” he said. ...