Fresno follows California's statewide minimum wage of $16.50 per hour as of 2026, indexed annually for inflation under SB 3, with no separate local wage ordinance unlike Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego.
California Senate Bill 3 set the statewide minimum wage and instituted annual CPI-based increases capped at 3.5 percent. As of 2026, the rate is $16.50 per hour for all employers, with industry-specific floors for fast food ($20) under AB 1228 and healthcare ($23) under SB 525. Fresno has not adopted a higher local minimum wage, unlike many coastal cities. Employers must post Wage Order 1-2024 and IWC notices. The Labor Commissioner's Fresno field office investigates wage theft.
Paying below the state minimum wage exposes employers to back-wage claims, liquidated damages, civil penalties, and possible PAGA representative actions through the California Labor Commissioner.
See how Fresno's minimum wage preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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