Evidence page
Minimum Wage Math
$16.90 state minimum wage vs. $49.61 housing wage
Updated with 2025 to 2026 California wage and housing data
Why this page matters
California’s current statewide minimum wage is far below what a renter needs to afford a modest two-bedroom home, showing how work can still leave families in housing crisis.
Key takeaways
- •California’s minimum wage rose to $16.90 per hour on January 1, 2026.
- •NLIHC’s 2025 California housing-wage data shows a worker needs $49.61 per hour to afford a modest two-bedroom rental at fair market rent.
- •That mismatch helps explain why even full-time work in California can still lead to overcrowding, motel stays, eviction risk, and utility shutoffs.
Sources
These pages use recent California-specific evidence currently wired into the site. As newer state data is added, the hub can be updated without changing the page structure.
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