The minimum wage in San Diego has been increasing steadily in recent years. In 2016, the minimum wage was $10.50 per hour. It increased to $11 per hour in 2017, $12 per hour in 2018, $13 per hour in 2019, and $15 per hour in 2022. The current minimum wage of $16.30 per hour is scheduled to increase to $16.50 per hour in 2024.
The minimum wage in San Diego is higher than the national average because the cost of living in San Diego is also higher than the national average. According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a single adult in San Diego needs to earn $22.61 per hour to live comfortably. This means that the current minimum wage in San Diego is not enough to support a single adult living on their own.
The minimum wage in San Diego is also higher than the average minimum wage in California because California has a more progressive approach to labor laws than the federal government. California has a state minimum wage, which is higher than the federal minimum wage, and it also allows cities and counties to set their own minimum wages.
The following table shows the average minimum wage in San Diego over the past 5 years:
Year Minimum Wage
2018 $11.00
2019 $12.00
2020 $13.00
2021 $15.00
2022 $16.30
As you can see, the minimum wage in San Diego has been increasing steadily in recent years. This is likely to continue as the cost of living in San Diego continues to rise.
What is the difference between gross wages and net wages?
It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.
What is a good hourly wage?
It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.
Offering competitive pay is one of my top priorities—what other resources do you have that might help?
It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.
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