California’s New $20 Fast Food Minimum Wage Law

California Fast Food Worker Minimum Wage in 2024

As of April 1, 2024, fast food workers in California must be paid $20.00 per hour under AB 1228, which was passed last year. The initial law only exempted certain bakeries and restaurants in grocery establishments. 

Exemptions for the $20 California Fast Food Law

Last week, the California legislature passed and Governor Newsom signed into law AB 610. This law amended the fast food worker minimum wage law and expanded the exemptions for certain fast food restaurants. Under the amended law, the following restaurants are exempt from the fast food worker minimum wage law: 

• Restaurants in airports, hotels, event centers, theme parks, public or private museums, and gambling establishments 
• Restaurants in a building, group of buildings, or campus used for office purposes primarily or exclusively by a single, for-profit corporation 
• Restaurants that are part of a concession or food service contract covering the building, group of buildings, or campus 
• Restaurants located on land owned by the state, city or county, or other political subdivision of the state, that is part of a port district or managed by port authority, a public beach, public pier, state park, municipal or regional park or historic district and operated under a concession agreement or food service contract

Learn More About California Minimum Wage in 2024

Law Takes Effect Immediately

The amended law took effect immediately on March 25, 2024. Any restaurants within the above descriptions are exempt from the fast food worker minimum wage law. This is just one of a myriad of minimum wage laws in California that employers need to track, which is why access to a robust minimum wage management solution can help simplify compliance management for employers.