Novato minimum wage
Minimum wage in Novato, California, in effect since January 1, 2026
$17.46 an hour
Novato sets its own minimum wage, $0.56 above the California rate of $16.90. Employers in Novato pay the higher local rate.
The rate differs by employer type; see the table below.
Next increase: $17.97 on January 1, 2027.
Rates by employer
| Employer or category | Hourly minimum | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Very large businesses (100 or more employees) | $17.73 | $17.73 |
| Large businesses (26 to 99 employees) | $17.46 | $17.46 |
| Small businesses (1 to 25 employees) California minimum wage | $16.90 | $16.90 |
Tipped employees
Novato doesn't allow a tip credit. Tipped employees must get the full $17.46 an hour from the employer, and tips are on top.
Scheduled increases
| Effective date | Standard rate | Tipped cash wage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $17.46 | $17.46 | In effect |
| January 1, 2027 | $17.97 | $17.97 | Announced |
How future increases are set
Local rates are adjusted each January 1 by the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward CPI-W or 3.5%, whichever is less; small businesses pay the state minimum.
Exceptions and details
- If the California minimum wage is higher than a Novato rate, the state rate applies.
Other local minimum wages in California
- Alameda $17.76
- Belmont $18.95
- Berkeley $19.61
- Burlingame $17.86
- Cupertino $18.70
- Daly City $17.50
- East Palo Alto $17.90
- El Cerrito $18.82
- Emeryville $20.34
- Foster City $17.85
- Fremont $18.05
- Half Moon Bay $17.91
- Hayward $17.79
- Los Altos $18.70
- Los Angeles $18.42
- Los Angeles County (unincorporated) $18.47
- Malibu $17.91
- Menlo Park $17.55
- Milpitas $18.50
- Mountain View $19.70
- Oakland $17.34
- Palo Alto $18.70
- Pasadena $18.57
- Petaluma $18.31
- Richmond $19.18
- San Carlos $17.75
- San Diego $17.75
- San Francisco $19.61
- San Jose $18.45
- San Mateo $18.60
- San Mateo County (unincorporated) $17.95
- Santa Clara $18.70
- Santa Monica $18.47
- Santa Rosa $18.21
- Sonoma $18.47
- South San Francisco $18.15
- Sunnyvale $19.50
- West Hollywood $20.25
Running payroll in Novato?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- City of Novato · data as of January 1, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.