The California legislature has passed a bill that will raise the state’s minimum wage to $10 an hour within three years, giving California one of the highest state minimum wage rates in America.
Washington state currently has the top minimum wage at $9.19 an hour, an amount that is pegged to rise with inflation. Some cities, including San Francisco, have slightly higher minimum wages.
The rate will raise gradually over time from its current level of $8 an hour. The state’s Governor Jerry Brown is supportive of the bill, which now awaits his signature.