California Raises Minimum Wage for Fast-Food Workers to $20 per Hour

On April 1st, the minimum wage for fast-food workers in California rose to $20 per hour under a new law aimed at protecting workers.

Franchise owners expressed concerns about increased costs and potential menu price hikes, while workers supported the wage increase.

The wage increase replaced a previous 2022 bill with similar worker protections. The statewide minimum wage is $16.

Controversy emerged over whether some chains like Panera were exempt, which the state later clarified with expanded guidelines.

There are over 500,000 fast-food workers in California. In 2022, the average hourly wage was $16.21.