San Bernardino County does not set a local minimum wage, so the California statewide rate of 16.50 dollars per hour applies in 2026 to most employers in unincorporated areas, with annual inflation indexing.
California Labor Code section 1182.12 sets a statewide minimum wage that the Department of Industrial Relations adjusts annually for inflation. The 2026 rate is 16.50 dollars per hour for all employers regardless of size. San Bernardino County has not adopted a higher local floor, unlike some Bay Area and Los Angeles jurisdictions. Industry-specific wages remain higher, including the fast-food minimum at 20 dollars per hour and the health-care minimum schedule under SB 525, both of which preempt the general state rate within their covered sectors.
Paying below the state minimum exposes employers to back wages, liquidated damages, and Labor Commissioner enforcement under PAGA.
See how San Bernardino's minimum wage preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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