California Enacts $25 Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers

The new law will gradually increase wages for 350,000 health care workers over the next decade, starting with immediate raises this week.

The law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, begins with a wage increase to $18 per hour for rural health care facilities and $23 per hour for larger hospitals.
The wage hikes were delayed from June to October to address a $46.8 billion state budget shortfall.
The legislation aims to improve working conditions and reduce reliance on state safety net programs like Medi-Cal and CalFresh.
While unions support the measure, some hospitals express concerns about potential financial pressures and job cuts.
California's general minimum wage is currently $16 per hour, with a proposal to raise it to $18 by 2026 pending voter approval.