Beginning January 1, 2023, the minimum wage rate in the City of Palo Alto increased from $16.45 to $17.25 per hour. This rate applies to work performed within the geographic boundaries of the City of Palo Alto. If the location where the work performed is outside the geographic boundaries of the City of Palo Alto, but still within California, then at least California’s state minimum wage rate laws would apply which currently require payment of at least $15.50 per hour.
Other geographic boundaries may have their own minimum wage laws, such as in the city of San Francisco or in the County of Los Angeles. There may be overlapping minimum wage protections at the city, county, state, and federal level. Generally, the most protective minimum wage law for employees applies, which is the one with the highest hourly rate, regardless of the level of government that provides the protection.