Several Bay Area cities, counties see minimum wage hikes July 1

PETALUMA, Calif. (KRON) — The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most expensive places in the country to live. On Tuesday, July 1, the minimum wage is going up in several Bay Area cities to keep up with inflation.

Back in January, California’s minimum wage hit $16.50.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved an increase to the county’s living wage in January. The county will see the highest jump, with an extra $5 an hour, climbing from $18 to $23. All county government service contractors are now required to pay their employees at least that much.

The University of California, Berkeley, has a list of the top cities in the Bay Area to get a raise on July 1. Emeryville leads the pack at $19.90 an hour. San Francisco will go from $18.67 to $19.19 an hour. Berkeley will match San Francisco’s rate. Milpitas goes to $18.20 an hour. Fremont goes to $17.75 an hour. Alameda goes to $17.46 an hour.

In California, fast food workers have to make at least $20 an hour. Certain healthcare workers are required to make between $21 and $25 an hour.

Workers say they need the money to get by, but critics argue that raising the minimum wage will drive up prices for consumers.