The Brief California's statewide minimum wage will increase to $17.40 per hour on January 1, 2027, marking the highest state-level wage in the U.S. The automatic inflation adjustment stands in contrast to the federal minimum wage, which has remained frozen at $7.25 per hour since 2009. Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday announced that California’s statewide minimum wage will rise to $17.40 per hour starting January 1, 2027. In contrast, the federal minimum wage remains anchored at $7.25 per hour, where it has sat since 2009. "For years, Donald Trump and Republicans have blocked efforts to raise the federal minimum wage while handing tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations.