What You Need to Know About California Minimum Wage, Overtime, and Other Wage Claims
You can recover unpaid wages, overtime, and tips in California if you know your rights and how to enforce them. Does your employer owe you unpaid wages or overtime? Or, maybe you need information on the breaks you’re entitled to, overtime rules, or your right to tips. If so, you'll find the information you need on this site to learn what you can do in California to get the money you have earned.
Here, we answer many common questions about wage and hour law in California, including:
- your rights to pay and what to do if you are owed pay
- whether you are eligible for overtime pay in California
- your right to tips in California
- what breaks you are entitled to in California, and
- how to file a wage claim against your employer with the California Department of Industrial Relations.
A few things to keep in mind as you explore this site:
1. Wage and hour laws differ from state to state.
Most states have enacted their own wage and hour regulations and procedures for employees to follow if they have been treated unfairly. These regulations and procedures vary from state to state. Start by finding out about your rights to pay in California.
2. Some states simply adopt the federal minimum wage and overtime standards, but most states have higher standards.
The U.S. Department of Labor covers minimum wage, overtime, and other wage and hour matters. In states that have not adopted their own wage and hour regulations and procedures, your rights are set out by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The California Department of Industrial Relations is the agency that enforces labor laws in California. Check there to find out more about minimum wage and overtime rules in California.
The minimum wage in California is $16 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Golden State must be paid at least $16 an hour.
As of April 1, 2024, fast food workers minimum wage is $20 per hour.
Quite a few local governments in California have passed ordinances establishing a higher minimum wage. If you work in one of these cities or counties, you are entitled to earn the higher local minimum wage amount.
Foster City Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Foster City, CA is $17 an hour.
San Mateo County Minimum Wage
In unincorporated San Mateo County, the current minimum wage is $17.06 an hour.
Check California Department of Industrial Relations to find out more.
3. You are entitled to certain payments when your employment ends.
Your final paycheck must include certain amounts, regardless of whether you resigned, were laid off, or were fired. Find out whether your former employer met California’s final paycheck requirements. If you are fired, laid off, or otherwise let go by your employer in California, your employer must pay your final paycheck immediately at the time of the firing, with a few exceptions for employees in particular industries. Check the California Department of Industrial Relations website for information about the exceptions. If you quit without giving at least 72 hours' notice, your employer must pay your final paycheck within 72 hours after you quit. If you gave at least 72 hours' notice of your intention to quit, your employer must pay your final paycheck immediately at the time you quit.