Fast-food minimum wage
Since 2024-04-01, California has paid a $20.00 per hour minimum to fast-food workers at chains with 60 or more US locations under AB 1228 (the FAST Recovery Act). The FAST Council, established by the same act, may adjust the rate annually by the lesser of CPI-W or 3.5 percent. As of 2026, the rate remains $20.00; no adjustment has been promulgated by the Council for the 2026 review cycle.[DIR Fast-Food]
Which chains are covered
The covered set is limited service restaurants (no table service, prepared and packaged for immediate consumption) that operate at 60 or more establishments nationally and share a common brand or standard operating procedures. Independent restaurants, full-service restaurants, and grocery-store delis are excluded.
Sector-specific wages in other states
- California healthcare: SB 525 sets healthcare-worker wages at $18.00 to $24.00 depending on facility type, phased through 2026-2028.
- Los Angeles hotels: LAMC 186 (Olympic Wage) sets the hotel-worker rate at $25.00 by 2028 with annual steps.
- Seattle app-based workers: Seattle Municipal Code 8.37 sets minimum pay for app-based food-delivery couriers, indexed annually.
- New York fast-food: A 2015 wage order set a $15.00 fast-food rate statewide in 2021; today the rate equals the general state minimum and does not have a separate carve-out.