For everyone who works two hours or more per week at a business or nonprofit in unincorporated Los Angeles County, the minimum wage has just gone up.
As of July 1, 2026, the new minimum wage is now $18.47 per hour.
The unincorporated LA County minimum wage increases every year on July 1. Remember to check your paycheck after July 1 to make sure you are being paid the legal wage.
Every worker and employee is protected by law. This increase applies to everyone working in the unincorporated parts of LA County, regardless of immigration status, no matter the size of the business you work for.
Your employment status, where you live, or where your employer is headquartered does not determine the minimum wage that applies. If you work outside of an unincorporated area of LA County, you must be paid either the California minimum wage or the minimum wage of the city where you worked.
Los Angeles County has been called the wage theft capital of the nation.
On average, $26-28 million is stolen from workers in LA County every week, and 80% of low-wage workers have reportedly experienced wage theft.
A crime that disproportionately affects low-wage workers, wage theft is when an employer does not pay workers what they have earned – whether it’s paying less than minimum wage, not paying overtime, withholding tips, not providing legally protected meal or rest breaks, taking illegal deductions from paychecks, misclassifying employees as independent contractors, or even not paying workers at all.
Underpaid? Workers can file a complaint with the DCBA’s Office of Labor Equity here.
After we receive a complaint, we may review records, conduct interviews, and issue a citation to make the employer pay the right wage. Before we initiate any enforcement actions, employers have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The Office of Labor Equity investigates other alleged violations, such as retaliation, in addition to enforcing the updated minimum wage law.
Employer retaliation for standing up for your rights or reporting wage violations is illegal. Retaliation can look like reduced hours, increased workload, firing and threats of deportation.
You can contact us by emailing wagehelp@dcba.lacounty.gov, calling (800) 593-8222 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or set up an online appointment that works best for you.
Our counselors are here to help unincorporated LA County workers understand their rights, the minimum wage and help employers follow the most current laws.
Visit workers.lacounty.gov to learn more or access resources like required postings in multiple languages.
Watch: Minimum Wage Public Service Announcement
Honest Work, Fair Pay. (English)
