More California Workers to Get Raises

Health care workers could see their pay increase to $23 an hour with gradual increases to $25.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the fast-food wage bill surrounded by fast-food workers at the SEIU Local 721 in Los Angeles on Sept. 28, 2023. Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo

Minimum wages are on the rise in California this year, with employees of larger health care systems getting paid more starting Oct. 16, after fast-food workers’ pay increased in April.

Health Care

Higher pay for certain health care providers was established with the passage of Senate Bill 525—which set a tiered schedule for wages that increase annually up to $25 per hour for some health care systems based on a complicated list of requirements determined partly by the number of employees.

Employees of the largest hospital systems will earn at least $23 per hour, with annual raises of at least $1 an hour in 2025 and 2026.