By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–San Diegans could see more money in their paychecks when the City of San Diego’s minimum wage increases effective Jan. 1, 2025.
Employees who perform at least two hours of work in one or more calendar weeks of the year within the city’s geographic boundaries will receive a minimum wage increase from $16.85 to $17.25 an hour.
The change was made by the City’s Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, which was approved in 2016. The City’s minimum wage is higher than California’s, which will increase to $16.50 on Jan. 1, 2025.
“This milestone reflects years of hard work and advocacy to put more money directly into the pockets of hardworking San Diegans,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “By raising the minimum wage, we are helping working families deal with the rising cost of living and better make ends meet.”
The minimum wage in San Diego has gone up annually since 2019 by an amount corresponding to the prior year’s increase in the cost of living as determined by the Consumer Price Index. The Minimum Wage Ordinance applies to all industries and businesses and there are no exceptions. Tips and gratuities do not count toward the payment of minimum wage.
Under the ordinance, employees will also continue to earn sick leave, either by the accrual or “front load” method. The earned sick leave can be used for all of the reasons described in the ordinance, including but not limited to, time for their medical care or for the medical care of a family member. Employers may limit an employee’s use of earned sick leave to forty hours in a benefit year.
Updated notices for posting at the workplace are available on the City’s Minimum Wage Program webpage. Employers must post these notices in a conspicuous place at any workplace or job site.
Employees can contact the City of San Diego’s Minimum Wage Program at SDMinWage@sandiego.gov or call (619) 235-5912.
