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There’s a lot to look forward to come 2026 — and a minimum wage increase is one of them.
Limited to the unincorporated parts of San Mateo County, minimum wage will rise 49 cents, totaling $17.95 an hour come Jan. 1, 2026. The new rate is almost $1 higher than the state’s and will apply to employees who work at least two hours per week, with a few exceptions.
Inclusive of nearly all North Fair Oaks, regardless of immigration status, the minimum wage will include agriculture workers on the coast, the unincorporated Middlefield Road corridor, as well as the Broadmoor Village in North County.
The Board of Supervisors first established a minimum wage for unincorporated areas in November 2022, upon “recognizing the challenges faced by low-wage workers in one of the most expensive regions in the United States,” a press release sent by the county’s Chief Communications Officer Michelle Durand stated.
The minimum wage, which went into effect in April 2023, was $16.50 an hour, to be adjusted based on a formula involving the consumer price index. This was notably higher than the state’s rate, which was as low as $14 an hour at the time, according to the state’s Department of Developmental Services.
Minimum wage is enforced by the county’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, which coordinates with workers and employers to increase awareness of wage requirements, investigates wage complaints and sometimes conducts spot checks.
The office encourages workers in unincorporated San Mateo to report issues by calling (866) 870-7726, emailing olse@smcgov.org or submitting an online complaint. Concerns can be filed in any language, anonymously and confidentially.
The Office of Labor Standards Enforcement also offers employers tools to help with minimum wage compliance, like a free and confidential labor advice hotline at (866) 870-7725. The hotline is staffed by attorneys with the office’s nonprofit partner, a pro bono legal help foundation called Step Forward.
