Richmond, CA 2015 Minimum Wage is $9.60

The 2015 minimum wage for employees in the city of Richmond, CA is $9.60 per hour for 2015. On January 1, 2016 the rate increases to $11.52 per hour. In 2017, the city minimum wage will be $12.30 per hour. Beginning in 2018, the minimum wage will increase annually, based on a unanimous vote by the Richmond City Council in May, 2014.

This municipal law covers employers with more than 10 employees. It does not cover tipped employees or those under the age of 18. Many of those workers are covered by the California minimum wage, which is $9.00 per hour for 2015 and scheduled to increase to $10.00 per hour in 2016.

Following Richmond’s lead, the California cities of San Francisco, San Jose and Sunnyvale have also increased their municipal minimum wages above the state rate. Other California cities including Berkeley are considering similar increases.

The Richmond, CA minimum wage increase was hotly debated. Many agree with a City Council study that it will raise the standard of living for minimum wage workers and their families reduce reliance on public assistance and increase consumer spending. However, business owners are split on whether the ultimate impact will be positive or negative for their businesses, and for the business community as a whole. Proponents point out that the phased increases are spread over more time, and the ultimate wage is lower, than originally proposed.