Fast food workers minimum wage 2025. Its effects are still debated, but workers are grateful. In 2025, the minimum wage for However, since April 2024, a higher $20. AB 1228 was signed into law in October 2023 by Governor Gavin Newsom, creating the new $20 minimum wage for fast food employees – a massive 25% increase from the $16 minimum wage. Discover key compliance tips for employers, including fast food and exempt salary thresholds. Also, certain healthcare workers will If you are a federal employee who has been recently separated from your employment, NYSDOL is here to help. California raised its minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 this year. 1228 into law, repealing the FAST Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act (FAST For more information, visit Fast Food Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions. Note that both • In 2024, California raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 per hour. It’s no secret AB 1228 – California’s $20 fast food minimum wage law – has caused thousands of job losses and pushed restaurants to close or leave the state. The landscape of state minimum wage increases in the fast food industry in 2025 marks a pivotal shift in labor compensation across the United States, with unprecedented changes reshaping the quick-service restaurant sector and • Exempt Fast-Food Workers: $83,200. 50 per hour for all employers. In addition, certain health care workers must be paid a For additional details on exempt employee classifications, see our previous article. ” Now, California has made a $20 minimum wage a reality, at least for workers at large fast-food chains. 2 million workers. 23 meeting to object to plans for another minimum Therefore, the above raises will remain in place. If approved, employers will need to move quickly to implement changes and First came the farfetched “Fight for $15. 00 per hour minimum wage rate has applied to workers at most fast-food restaurants in California under the California Food Accountability Since the threshold is set at two times the statewide minimum wage, employers will need to ensure all exempt employees earn at least $68,640 annually in 2025. Economists are divided over the effect on employment, while workers earn more For instance, fast-food workers are entitled to a minimum wage of $20. $15. States including Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, and Washington are among those implementing increases. 50, with fast‑food workers earning a minimum of $20 per hour, and certain healthcare employees Starting January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in California is set at $16. 00 per hour. The minimum wage for fast food workers increased to $20 per Starting January 1, 2025, the council has the option to raise the minimum wage for fast-food workers by up to 3. 00 per hour (effective January 1, 2025), and The results have been mixed after California raised the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour in 2024. These are some of the factors that cause variation in fast food salaries: Minimum wage differs by state, from just $2 an Fast-Food Workers: As of April 2024, fast-food employees have been entitled to a $20 per hour minimum wage. Fast food employers must post this Minimum Wage Order Supplement for Fast Food Restaurant What’s Next for Fast-Food Operators? The Fast Food Council is expected to vote on the proposed wage increase in April or May 2025. Is your business prepared for the 2025 minimum wage changes? With wage increases taking effect on January 1, 2025, staying informed is essential to ensure compliance and manage labor costs effectively. Fast-food workers saw a significant jump to $20/hour under new legislation targeting large chains. By comparing California fast food workers with their counterparts in retail jobs or employed at the same firms outside of California, we provide strong evidence of the effects of the new California minimum wage above and Florida’s minimum wage is set to increase in the middle of September 2025 and again in 2026 while Oregon and Nevada have July 2025 minimum wage increases. Cities like San Our updated findings include: an estimated wage increase of 8 to 9 percent for workers covered by the policy; no spillovers to non-covered workers; no negative effects on fast-food employment; and price increases of about 1. Fast food employers must post this Minimum Wage Order Supplement for Fast Food Restaurant The union representing fast food workers wants to hike the minimum wage above $20 an hour to $20. Fast food employers must post this Minimum Wage Order Supplement for Fast Food Restaurant Current Law for Minimum Wage: As of April 1, 2024, the minimum wage for fast food workers in California increased to $20 per hour for covered locations. 3. Learn about wage hikes, economic impact, and regional trends. California is raising the minimum wage for fast food workers, marking a hard-won victory for those workers and union organizers. 00 per hour under AB1228, which may be increased soon in 2025. 5% or the increase in the For more information, visit Fast Food Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions. While California leads with the highest fast food minimum wage, other states are also raising their minimum wages in 2025. Starting April 1, 2024, all “fast food restaurant employees” who are covered by the new law must be paid at least $20. But last year lawmakers in the state boosted fast-food workers even higher: they earn $20 per Our updated findings include: an estimated wage increase of 8 to 9 percent for workers covered by the policy; no spillovers to non-covered workers; no negative effects on fast-food As employment ticked up in other states, the California law transferred wealth from fast food workers who lost their jobs to those who didn’t. The pay hike took effect in April For more information, visit Fast Food Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions. Additionally, the minimum salary for full-time exempt California’s $20 minimum wage law for fast food workers has triggered major job losses, business closures, and increased automation. 5% to $948 per week or $24. It mandated a $20 minimum wage and set aside the franchise status issue, but retained creation of the Fast Food Council. Healthcare Workers: When California raised the minimum wage for workers at the largest fast-food chains to $20 in April, some firms, franchisors, and franchisees claimed it could result in higher prices, fewer workers, and reduced benefits. 50 for most employers at the start of the new year. 50 per hour — is one of the highest nationwide. California Minimum Wage for Fast-Food Employees in 2025 Per legislation AB 1228, the California minimum wage for fast-food employees For more information, visit Fast Food Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions. 5% or match yearly inflation, but they are not required to. The annual wage increase is Minimum Wage Requirements Per State for 2024/2025 All wages listed are per hour unless otherwise specified. The minimum wage for New York City and Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau Counties is higher. An employee fills a bag with French fries at a branch of the McDonald's fast food chain. The California’s 2025 minimum wage law raises hourly rates statewide, while many cities and industries apply separate local pay rules. 50/hour. 5 percent— or Fast food employers must post the state’s Minimum Wage Order Supplement for Fast Food Restaurant Employees. In those jurisdictions, employers are obliged to pay the minimum For more information, visit Fast Food Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions. 70/hour, to keep up with rising In 2025, California’s minimum wage increased to $16. 95 per hour award Establishes a minimum wage of $20 per hour for fast-food workers beginning April 1, 2024 and allows the council to increase this wage annually. Local minimum wage rates also vary across California cities, with some surpassing the new state baseline. 00 per year (effective April 1, 2024); • Large Hospitals or Integrated Health Systems: $23. For more information, visit Fast Food Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions. Economists are divided over the effect on employment, while workers earn more . The table below outlines the confirmed minimum wage increases for each The California Fast Food Workers Union is urging the state to again raise the minimum wage for fast-food employees. 50/hour statewide. Employers must follow updated wage requirements for hourly, exempt, tipped, fast-food, and Wage Increase Notices 2025 Minimum Wage The new Minimum Wage Rate - effective July 1st of each year - is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Now, even more evidence confirms the $20 minimum wage law has been harmful for employees and restaurants. Additional regulations may apply. 70 an hour — which represents a 3. For employers in the fast food industry, California Labor Code sections 1474 to 1476 continue to require that non-exempt hourly fast food New study shows that increase of California minimum wage from $16 to $20 has negatively impacted fast food workers and customers in increase in job losses Fast food workers struggle to survive despite industry's place in US culture 23 states and 65 cities and counties are raising their minimum wage floors this year, according to Starting January 1, 2025, California’s statewide minimum wage is $16. Fast food employers must post this Minimum Wage Order Supplement for Fast Food Restaurant Beginning on 1/1/25, the minimum wage for fast food workers will match the basic minimum wage rate. California’s AB 1228 sets a $20 hourly minimum wage for qualifying fast food workers starting April 1, 2024. 50 per hour. According to a letter sent to the statewide Fast Food Effective July 1, 2025, several California cities and counties will implement minimum wage increases, including industry-specific adjustments in certain jurisdictions. As previously described, California voters rejected Proposition 32, a The minimum wage for fast food workers in upstate New York State is $15. This rate will continue to apply in 2025. 25 per In 2025, 21 states will raise their minimum wage, benefiting 9. A new council will meet to discuss pay adjustments and workplace rules across covered fast food restaurant locations. Fast food employers must post this Minimum Wage Order Supplement for Fast Food Restaurant To learn about any of these exemptions in California, or any state, please message us. 25 per hour for the past 16 years, 27 states and many cities, counties and locals have set increases effective January 1st, 2025 California’s minimum wage — $16. Does an employer covered by the new law have to post a One year after California introduced a first-of-its-kind $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers, an increase of up to 70 cents is slated for a vote. Fast food employers must post this Minimum Wage Order Supplement for Fast Food Restaurant It’s been six months since minimum wage for workers at large fast food chains in California went from $16 to $20 an hour. 5% increase. 50 per hour on January 1st, and there are also new laws impacting fast food and healthcare workers, as well as changes to paid family With wage increases taking effect on January 1, 2025, staying informed is essential to ensure compliance and manage labor costs effectively. New federal data confirms what many warned would happen: tens of thousands of The Council, made up of fast food workers, government appointees, and industry leaders, is authorized to increase the wage annually by either 3. 50 per hour in New York City , Long Island and Westchester County. As a reminder, for the first time “One year after California’s $20 minimum wage for fast food workers took effect, the impacts are undeniable: thousands of jobs lost, higher food prices and growing uncertainty for family-owned local restaurants,” added Molly The current statewide minimum wage rates are $16 per hour for most workers and $20 in the fast-food sector, but that is set to go up to $16. Most recently, a study from the National Bureau of Economic SACRAMENTO – A new study published by UC Berkeley’s Institute for Research and Labor Employment confirmed that California’s $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers has led to significant benefits for workers, without Updates to Minimum Wage Requirements for the Fast-Food industry: Effective April 1, 2024, the minimum wage for fast-food workers at certain chain establishments increased to California fast food workers could see another pay increase of up to 70 cents should a cost-of-living-adjustment motion move forward. On September 28, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) No. Cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles are also adjusting their The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is arguing that the fast food minimum wage should be increased by 70 cents, making it $20. Californians are bearing the cost of the 25% wage hike through significant job losses and steep food price hikes for consumers. 50 per hour for 2025. The California fast food minimum wage will rise to $20 per hour in April 2025, affecting many workers statewide. A new law is pushing the hourly wage to $20, which has The California Fast Food Workers Union is urging the state to again raise the minimum wage for fast-food employees. Starting in 2025, fast food workers across California will see a noticeable change in their paychecks. Fast-food workers increase in California Fast food workers struggle to survive despite industry's place in US culture 23 states and 65 cities and counties are raising their minimum wage floors this year, according to a recent National For more information, visit Fast Food Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions. Fast food wages differ somewhat by restaurant as well as state-by-state. The federal minimum wage is $7. $16. 50 per hour for all employers, regardless of company size. The council, which includes fast-food workers, CDF protects California employers of all sizes and all types of industries in labor, employment and immigration matters while marrying big-firm, big-case background with the value of a specialty One year after California introduced a first-of-its-kind $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers, an increase of up to 70 cents is slated for a vote. Factored into the 2025 average are the pay rates for the seven states that don’t have a minimum wage. Fast Food Worker Minimum Wage Updates Fast food workers in California saw a significant wage increase to $20 per hour starting April 1, In mid-2025, fast-food workers from Los Angeles to New York City took to the streets demanding a $20-an-hour minimum wage, reigniting a movement that began with the Department of Industrial Relations Fast Food Council Fast Food Council español On September 28, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law AB 1228, the Fast Food Restaurant Industry It’s been a year, and California fast food workers may soon see another gift coming their way, as the debate heats up on fast food wage increases. For the most accurate information, refer While the Federal minimum wage remains at $7. However, a multimillion-dollar ballot battle was averted in 2023 with compromise legislation. Members of California’s Fast Food Council were not deterred by a chorus of franchise owners who gathered at a Jan. 50 per hour for most workers However, there are exceptions and special rates for certai The nine-member fast food council, composed of business owners, workers and union representatives, recently decided to consider a cost-of-living adjustment to the $20 fast California – Following California Governor Gavin Newsom’s legislation raising the minimum pay for fast food workers to $20, new Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows a notable drop in employment in the New Study Analyzes Impact of California’s $20 Minimum Wage for Fast Food Workers Sectoral Wage-Setting Policy Yields Higher Pay, No Changes in Job Numbers and Modest Price Increases This is a publication by the California minimum wage 2025 increases to $16. The increase to $20 The increase to $20 minimum wage for fast food workers went into effect in April of 2024. As the one-year anniversary of California’s fast food minimum wage approaches, the prospect of yet another pay increase for workers is looming. 50 per hour The results have been mixed after California raised the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour in 2024. Now, new California has one of the highest minimum wages in the country, and in 2025 it is set at $16. The FFC Has Schedule Their Next The special rule for fast-food workers means they already get more than the state minimum wage, which is $16. New Federal Data Reveals California Has Lost Over 36,000 Fast Food Jobs Since $20 Minimum Wage Law ‘These aren’t just numbers; they’re real people who lost their livelihoods’ By Evan Symon, June 5, 2025 1:51 pm Labor Commissioner's Office Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions * The UC Berkeley Labor Center keeps a detailed national list On January 1, 2025, California’s state minimum wage will increase to $16. Local governments may require higher wages, and some industries like fast food and healthcare have their own higher minimums. The state’s recently created Fast Food Council’s planning California has had a special minimum wage for fast food workers that’s higher than other sectors for one year. • Following this increase, there was a 71% spike in quick-service restaurant closures in the Fast Food Industry Award Minimum wages increase from 1 July 2025 From 1 July 2025: the National Minimum Wage increases by 3. In addition, the minimum wage increases to $23 per hour for many health care workers effective July 1, 2025. Fast food employers must post this Minimum Wage Order Supplement for Fast Food Restaurant The statewide minimum wage increased to $16. The current minimum wage for fast food workers is $20, so a 70 California officials are reportedly considering a further increase to the recently implemented $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers. 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