Local minimum wage ordinance

Local minimum wage increases to $17.10 for 2025

On Jan. 1, 2025, the local minimum wage in Menlo Park increased by $0.40 to $17.10 per hour. The $0.40 per hour increase reflects the maximum allowed inflation adjustment of 3%. Absent the inflation cap of 3% set by the municipal code, the actual inflation adjustment would have been 2.4% for the San Francisco area as measured from August 2023 to August 2024 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. City staff summarized changes to the local minimum wage in Staff Report No. 24-176-CC presented Oct. 8, 2024, to the City Council. The official notice to employees(PDF, 132KB) is available for download by Dec. 1 each year.

On Jan. 1, 2026, the local minimum wage in Menlo Park will increase by $0.45 to $17.55 per hour.

What employers need to know

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1058 on Sept. 24, 2019, to establish a local minimum of $15.00 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2020. Section 5.76.030 of the local minimum wage law provides annual inflation protection adjustments in January of each year, capped at 3%, using the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco area. The Jan. 1, 2025, inflation protection adjustment increased the local minimum wage from $16.70 to $17.10 per hour. On Jan. 1, 2026, the local minimum wage will increase from $17.10 to $17.55 per hour.

The local minimum wage law applies to all employers within the geographic boundaries of incorporated Menlo Park and any employee working at least two or more hours per week. Employers located in unincorporated Menlo Park are not subject to the ordinance.

Employers are responsible for posting the city-provided official notice to employees(PDF, 132KB) in a visible place for employees to review the current rate and understand their rights. It is unlawful for an employer or any other party to discriminate in any manner or take adverse action against any person in retaliation for exercising their rights.

The City is responsible for conducting all investigations of any possible violations by an employer or other person. The City has the authority to inspect workplaces, interview people, and request the City Attorney to subpoena books, papers, records, or other items relevant to the local minimum wage enforcement.

What employees need to know

As of Jan. 1, 2025, all businesses operating within the geographic boundaries of incorporated Menlo Park must pay a minimum wage of $17.10 per hour for all employees working two or more hours per week.

Below is the history of Menlo Park’s local minimum wage updates:

• Increase to $16.70 per hour as of Jan. 1, 2024
• Increase to $16.20 per hour as of Jan. 1, 2023
• Increase to $15.75 per hour as of Jan. 1, 2022
• Increase to $15.25 per hour as of Jan. 1, 2021
• Increase to $15.00 per hour as of Jan. 1, 2020

As an employee, the City’s ordinance outlines your rights under the new law, including, but not limited to:

• The right to file a complaint and inform the City about any business not complying with the City’s local minimum wage regulations
• The right to inform any employee of their potential rights and assist them in reporting a business not complying with the City’s local minimum wage regulations.