Starting January 1, 2021, the minimum wage rate in the City of Sonoma is $15.00/hour for large employers (26 or more employees) and $14.00/hour for small employers (25 or fewer employees).
The scheduled increase is included in the minimum wage ordinance adopted by the City Council in mid 2019 after a minimum wage study, which became Chapter 2.80 of the Sonoma Municipal Code.
Sonoma’s minimum wage applies to any person who in a particular week performs more than 2 hours of work within the geographic boundaries of the City of Sonoma for an employer. A “learners wage” and other certain exemptions apply.
The new rates put Sonoma’s minimum wage at $1.00/hour above California’s statewide minimum wage, which increases to $14.00 for large employers and $13.00 for small employers effective January 1.
Sonoma’s minimum wage ordinance originally included a medical benefit credit of up to $1.50 per hour to go into effect January 1, 2021, with guidelines to be determined. At the meeting of November 16, 2020 the City Council voted to introduce an ordinance to remove the Health Benefit Credit (Section 2.80.040(F)). A video of this meeting can be viewed here (discussion of this item begins shortly after the 30 minute mark). The second reading of this ordinance is scheduled for the City Council meeting of December 7, 2020.
Visit the Sonoma Minimum Wage page to learn more about the ordinance, read Frequently Asked Questions, learn more about employer posting and notification requirements, and download official posters in English and Spanish.