County Minimum Wage to Increase to $15.96 Per Hour Starting July 1; Pasadena Rate Could Increase Also

Local employees making the minimum wage could see an increase in their paychecks in a few months.

Minimum wage employees in Altadena and other nearby areas on the county’s minimum wage schedule will see an increase in their pay.

The minimum wage in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will increase to $15.96 an hour as of July 1, the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs announced on Wednesday due to increases in the Consumer Price Index.

The rate marks a 6.4% increase over the current $15/hour minimum wage.

Pasadena’s minimum wage also includes a clause that allows for increases based on the CIP.

The Pasadena City Council adopted a Minimum Wage Ordinance on March 14, 2016.

The wage increased on July 1, 2016 to $10.50 and increased by $1.25 every year on that date until it reached $15 in 2020.

Businesses with 25 or fewer employees and qualifying non-profits have an additional year to comply with the sequential wage increases.

The county’s rate has risen steadily since 2016, when the county adopted a minimum wage ordinance that slowly increased the amount annually, reaching $15/hour on July 1, 2020, for large businesses and on July 1, 2021, for smaller businesses.

“A healthy local economy means support for both labor and industry,” Rafael Carbajal, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, said in a statement. “This wage adjustment is in line with the spirit of the ordinance to ensure that wages keep pace with inflation and support a stable workforce. We will ensure that workers in unincorporated L.A. County are protected and aware of the updated minimum wage, and we will work with our sister departments to support employers that may need assistance with information, compliance, and access to resources.”

The city of Los Angeles announced last month that the minimum wage within the city will increase to $16.04 per hour effective July 1. The bump is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers in the L.A. metropolitan area, according to the city.