"Eight cities in Santa Clara County already pay workers above the hourly rate, which in 2026 is $16.90, up 40 cents from the state's 2025 minimum wage. Business owners are bracing for an uptick in costs and workers say the increase isn't enough, while others already making more than minimum wage are still struggling. In San Jose - where minimum wage is inching up 50 cents to $18.45 an hour - that only adds up to an additional $1,040 a year."
"But Amar Mistry, an Amazon customer service associate, said the $2.4 trillion retail behemoth could be paying substantially more. He won't be seeing an increase in pay unless he sticks around for at least half a year to a year, he said. "They should raise (wages) more, especially in this area," Mistry, 38, told San José Spotlight. "Fast-food workers get $20 (an hour).""
California's state minimum wage increases to $16.90 in 2026, a 40-cent rise from 2025. Eight cities in Santa Clara County already mandate higher local rates. San Jose's minimum wage rises 50 cents to $18.45, equating to roughly $1,040 more annually for a full-time worker; the state's increase yields about $832 more. Major employers like Amazon start some roles at $19 an hour, but some employees must wait months for raises. MIT's Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult needs $35.28 an hour in Silicon Valley. Wages lag inflation and California's poverty rate is 17.7%.
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