Minimum Wage, Meal/Rest Breaks, Final Pay, and Cal/OSHA Reporting
The day-to-day wage-and-hour rules a contractor-employer must follow — and the deadline to report a serious injury.
1. Minimum wage (2026)
California's statewide minimum wage is $16.90/hour (effective Jan 1, 2026, all employers). Many cities/counties set higher local minimums — you must pay the higher applicable rate.
2. Meal and rest breaks
| Break | Rule |
|---|---|
| Meal | 30 minutes, unpaid, duty-free, when a shift is over 5 hours (a second 30-min meal when over 10 hours) |
| Rest | 10 minutes, paid, for every 4 hours worked (or major fraction) |
Miss a required break and the employer owes one hour of pay ("premium pay") per day for each type.