Hotel Living Wage: Long Beach vs Los Angeles
How do hotel living wage rules compare between Long Beach, CA and Los Angeles, CA?
Long Beach has fewer restrictions than Los Angeles.
Long Beach, CA
Los Angeles County
Long Beach Living Wage Ordinance requires city service contractors and certain airport and convention center employers to pay an hourly living wage above California minimum wage, with annual indexing.
View full Long Beach rules βLos Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County
LAMC Section 186.02, the Citywide Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance, sets a higher minimum wage and healthcare contribution for non-managerial workers at hotels with 60 or more rooms, scheduled to reach $30 per hour by July 2028 under Ordinance 188251.
View full Los Angeles rules βKey Facts Comparison
| Fact | Long Beach | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Code section | LBMC Chapter 2.73 | LAMC Section 186.02 |
| Coverage | City service contractors | Hotels 60-plus rooms |
| State floor | $16.50 minimum wage indexed | - |
| Adjustments | Annual CPI indexing | - |
| Health benefit | Required or wage adder | - |
| Current wage (2024) | - | $20.32 per hour |
| 2028 target | - | $30 per hour |
| Healthcare add-on | - | $8.35 per hour |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Long Beach FAQ
Does living wage cover all hotels?
No. Coverage attaches to city contracts and concessions, not all private hotels. Privately operated hotels follow state minimum wage rules unless contractually bound to the city.
How is the rate set?
The Long Beach City Council adopts a base living wage rate adjusted annually for inflation, with a separate health-benefit adder published by the City Manager's Office.
Los Angeles FAQ
Are tipped workers covered?
Yes. California prohibits tip credits, so tipped hotel workers must receive the full hourly hotel minimum wage. Tips are paid in addition to the hourly rate, not counted toward it.
What if my hotel offers full healthcare?
Operators that provide qualifying healthcare benefits valued at the published premium can pay the lower base wage. Otherwise the worker is entitled to the cash healthcare contribution on top of the hourly wage.
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