Time Travel for Minimum Wage? Not Quite, But Buckle Up for a Blast from the Past (in 2024)
Ah, 2023. A simpler time, well, at least when it comes to remembering the California minimum wage. Because let's face it, in 2024, with inflation threatening to launch our wallets into orbit, remembering what a gallon of gas cost two years ago feels like ancient history.
But fear not, intrepid wage-earners! For I, your friendly neighborhood minimum wage time-travel guide (disclaimer: time travel not actually involved, just some good old-fashioned internet sleuthing) am here to whisk you back to the golden days of... well, slightly less expensive everything.
So, how much was the minimum wage in California in 2023, you ask?
Drumroll please... The minimum wage for all employees in the Golden State in 2023 was a cool $15.50 per hour. That's right, folks, a whole 50 cents less than our current rate of $16.
Now, before you start digging out your old pay stubs and dusting off your 2023 wardrobe (acid wash jeans are totally coming back, right?), it's important to remember a couple of things.
- City Slickers with Higher Standards: Some California cities, like Los Angeles and Emeryville, actually had minimum wages higher than the state rate in 2023. So, if you were slinging lattes in a trendy coffee shop in one of those places, you might have been raking in a bit more than the average Californian.
- The Minimum Wage March: California's minimum wage has been on an upward climb for years, with the goal of reaching $15 for all by 2023 (achieved!) and continuing to adjust for inflation. So, that $15.50 in 2023 might not seem like much compared to our current reality, but it was a significant increase from previous years.
The Moral of the Minimum Wage Story?
There's no time machine to get you back to the days of the $15.50 minimum wage, but hey, at least we can take comfort in knowing that California's minimum wage is keeping pace (well, kind of) with the ever-rising cost of living.
Here's to hoping our wallets can hold on for the ride!
