California Health Care Worker Minimum Wage Calculator
Determine the statutory minimum wage schedule for California health care workers under Senate Bill 525 (SB 525). Compare facility category floors, effective dates, contractor coverage tests, and local municipal minimum wage ordinances.
Official Legal Scope: California SB 525 Health Care Worker Minimum Wage
This calculator estimates applicable statutory minimum wage floors for covered California health care workers under Labor Code §§ 1182.14, 1182.15, 1182.16 and 8 CCR § 11000.2. Statutory rates depend on confirmed employer facility category, effective date, and any applicable local general minimum wage ordinance. This tool does not decide individualized classification, legal coverage, or overtime entitlement.
Health Care Worker & Facility Inputs
Select your effective date, workplace jurisdiction, and confirmed statutory category.
Awaiting Facility & Worker Inputs
Confirm your effective date, workplace jurisdiction, worker coverage questions, and employer facility category to view the verified SB 525 statutory wage floor.
Understanding California's SB 525 Health Care Worker Minimum Wage
Enacted through Senate Bill 525 (2023) and amended by SB 828 and SB 159 (2024), California established a groundbreaking, facility-category-based minimum wage schedule for workers in health care facilities. Unlike standard minimum wage laws that apply uniformly by geographic boundary, SB 525 establishes distinct wage tiers based on employer facility type, bed count, payor mix, and county population.
Official Statutory Minimum Wage Schedules by Facility Category
| Facility Category | 2024–2025 Rate | July 1, 2025 | July 1, 2026 | July 1, 2027+ | Statutory Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Systems (10,000+ FTEs) & Dialysis | $23.00 (Oct 16, 2024) | $24.00 | $25.00 | $25.00 (CPI in 2028) | Lab. Code § 1182.14(c)(1) |
| Community & Rural Clinics (No Waiver) | $21.00 (Oct 16, 2024) | $21.00 | $22.00 | $25.00 (July 1, 2027) | Lab. Code § 1182.14(c)(3) |
| Other Covered Facilities (Non-County) | $21.00 (Oct 16, 2024) | $21.00 | $23.00 | $23.00 (to $25 in 2028) | Lab. Code § 1182.14(c)(4) |
| Safety Net Hospitals (High Payor Mix) | $18.00 (Oct 16, 2024) | $18.63 | $19.28 | $19.95 (to $25 in 2033) | Lab. Code § 1182.14(c)(2) |
| County Large (Pop > 5M as of 1/1/2023) | $23.00 (Jan 1, 2025) | $24.00 | $25.00 | $25.00 (CPI in 2028) | Lab. Code § 1182.15(a) |
| County Medium (Pop 250k–5M as of 1/1/2023) | $21.00 (Jan 1, 2025) | $21.00 | $23.00 | $23.00 (to $25 in 2028) | Lab. Code § 1182.15(b) |
| County Small (Pop < 250k as of 1/1/2023) | $18.00 (Jan 1, 2025) | $18.63 | $19.28 | $19.95 (to $25 in 2033) | Lab. Code § 1182.15(c) |
| Independent Skilled Nursing Facilities | Conditional: Not operative until Legislature enacts patient-care spending requirement. State & local general minimum wages apply. | Lab. Code § 1182.14(c)(5) | |||
1. Covered Worker Duties (Direct & Support Services)
Under California Labor Code § 1182.14(b)(4) and DIR FAQ Q9, coverage extends beyond doctors and nurses. It protects any worker providing direct patient care or services supporting the provision of health care. Covered support roles include janitors, housekeepers, security guards, clerical/business office personnel, dietary and cafeteria workers, laundry staff, patient schedulers, medical coders, billing specialists, patient call center staff, and warehouse workers.
2. Contractors, Subcontractors & Staffing Agencies
Under DIR FAQ Q10–Q11, employees of outside contractors, staffing agencies, or vendors are covered if they provide health care services or support services, AND either: (1) the covered health care facility acts as a joint employer (exercises control over wages, hours, or working conditions); OR (2) the worker spends more than 50% of their workweek performing work on-site at the covered health care facility. Workers who spend 50% or less of their workweek at the facility without joint employer control are not covered.
3. Public Sector Scope & State-Owned Exemption
Facilities owned, controlled, or operated by the State of California or state agencies (such as the Department of State Hospitals, CDCR prison health facilities, California State University, and California Community Colleges) are expressly excluded from SB 525 (Cal. Lab. Code § 1182.14(b)(3)(C); 8 CCR § 11000.2(E)(1)). However, the statute explicitly provides that University of California (UC Health) facilities and local public entities (counties, cities, health care districts) are covered.
4. Interaction with Higher Municipal Ordinances
Labor Code § 1182.14(a)(1) preempts local governments from enacting minimum wage ordinances that target only health care workers. However, general municipal minimum wage laws applying to all workers in a city (such as West Hollywood, Emeryville, Berkeley, or San Francisco) continue to apply. If a general local minimum wage exceeds the SB 525 statutory floor, the higher local rate controls.
Exempt Employee Salary Thresholds Under SB 525 (Labor Code § 1182.14(d))
To be classified as exempt from overtime under the administrative, executive, or professional exemptions, an employee at a covered facility must receive a monthly salary equivalent to no less than:
For example, at a facility where the SB 525 rate is $25.00/hour (effective July 1, 2026), the annual salary threshold is $78,000 / year ($6,500 / month), because 1.5 × $25.00 ($37.50/hr × 2,080 = $78,000) exceeds twice the statewide minimum wage ($16.90 × 2 × 2,080 = $70,304).
Clinic Waiver Program & Skilled Nursing Facility Limitations
Clinic Waiver Program: Under Labor Code § 1182.14(e) and 8 CCR § 11000.2(2)(E)(3), certain community and rural clinics may apply to DIR/HCAI for a 12-month waiver of minimum wage increases based on severe financial distress. If granted, the clinic must post the waiver within 10 days and notify all employees in writing. Review of official HCAI records confirms that zero waivers have been approved as of October 2026.
Independent Skilled Nursing Facilities: Skilled nursing facilities not owned, operated, or controlled by a hospital or integrated health system are subject to a statutory trigger requirement. The SB 525 rates do not become operative for these facilities until the Legislature enacts a patient-care minimum spending requirement (Labor Code § 1182.14(c)(5)). Independent SNF workers remain covered by California general statewide and local municipal wage laws. Check our California Minimum Wage & Local Wage Checker to look up applicable municipal rates.
Official Government Authorities
Primary statutory codes, administrative regulations, and official agency enforcement guidelines.
California Health Care Worker Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions (SB 525)
Official DLSE enforcement guidance on SB 525 health care facility minimum wage schedules, facility tiers, covered services, joint employment tests, and municipal wage interactions.
Health Care Worker Minimum Wage Law Clinic Waiver Program FAQ
Official guidelines on the 12-month clinic minimum wage waiver program, application requirements, and financial documentation criteria.
California Code of Regulations Title 8 Section 11000.2 – Minimum Wage Order Supplement for Health Care Facilities
Regulatory wage order supplement establishing effective dates and tiered hourly wage floors for health care facility employees operative October 16, 2024.
California Labor Code Section 1182.14 – Health Care Worker Minimum Wage Schedules & Facility Definitions
Statutory codification of minimum wage rates for large hospital systems, dialysis clinics, safety-net hospitals, community clinics, and other covered health care facilities.
California Labor Code Section 1182.15 – County-Operated Health Care Facilities
Establishes January 1, 2025 effective date and population-tiered wage schedules (based on county population as of January 1, 2023) for county-operated health care facilities.
California Labor Code Section 1182.16 – Health Care Worker Minimum Wage Operative Date Triggers
Trigger mechanism linking the operative date of SB 525 to hospital quality assurance fee data retrieval notice, which occurred on October 1, 2024 (making the law operative October 16, 2024).
HCAI SB 525 Hospital Lists & Fact Sheet
Official supporting reference lists published by HCAI identifying health care delivery systems with 10,000+ FTEs, safety-net hospitals, and elevated governmental payor mix facilities.
HCAI Clinic Minimum Wage Waiver Program Registry
Official state registry of clinic waiver financial reviews and approved waivers; confirms zero approved waivers issued as of October 2026.
California Healthcare Minimum Wage Guide: SB 525 & SB 828 Rules
Learn about the 4 covered facility schedules, job role eligibility for clinical and support staff, exempt salary minimums, and healthcare overtime rules under Labor Code § 1190.
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