City of Los Angeles Raises Wages for Hotel Airport Workers – and California Minimum Wage Increase JULY 1, 2025

A Blog by Vanessa Greene – HR Watchdog

On May 27, 2025, the Los Angeles City Council amended their Living Wage Ordinance (LWO) and Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance (HWMO) to increase hotel and airport worker minimum wages starting on July 1, 2025, as well as implemented a health benefit requirement for covered hotel workers and a new Hotel Worker Training Ordinance. These changes will significantly impact hotel and airport employers operating within the city of Los Angeles.

New Minimum Wage Rates

Both hotel and airport employers will see required hourly minimum wages rise over the next four years as follows:

• $22.50 per hour on July 1, 2025.
• $25.00 per hour on July 1, 2026.
• $27.50 per hour on July 1, 2027.
• $30.00 per hour on July 1, 2028.

Starting July 1, 2029, adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

For hotel employers, these wage increases apply to properties with 60 or more guest rooms, unless overridden by a collective bargaining agreement that explicitly waives these provisions.

Enhanced Health Benefits

Additionally, starting July 1, 2026, covered hotel employers who don’t offer health benefits must add an additional amount to the required hourly wages listed above. That additional amount must match the health benefit rate already required for employers servicing the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

For airport employers, the required health benefit payment starts sooner — on July 1, 2025 — at $7.65/hour with annual increases starting in 2026 tied to the California Department of Managed Healthcare’s Large Group Aggregate Rates.

Mandatory Training for Hotel Workers

Finally, beginning December 1, 2025, new training requirements for hotel workers will take effect. Covered employees must receive at least six hours of live, interactive “Public Housekeeping Training” that covers:

• Hotel worker rights and employer responsibilities;
• How to identify and respond to suspected human trafficking, domestic violence or threatening behavior;
• Cleaning techniques that help prevent the spread of disease;
• How to detect and avoid insect and vermin infestations; and
• How to recognize and respond to other potentially criminal activity.

CALIFORNIA MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

July 1, 2025, these localities will increase their minimum wage to:

• Alameda: $17.46 per hour;
• Berkeley: $19.18 per hour;
• Emeryville: $19.90 per hour;
• Fremont: $17.75 per hour;
• Los Angeles City: $17.87 per hour;
• Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas): $17.81 per hour;
• Milpitas: $18.20 per hour;
• Pasadena: $18.04 per hour;
• San Francisco: $19.18 per hour; and
• Santa Monica: $17.81 per hour.

Although Malibu usually increases their local minimum wage on July 1, the Malibu City Council approved a one-year suspension of their scheduled minimum wage increase so Malibu’s local minimum wage will remain $17.27 per hour.

Also, effective July 1, the following localities have industry-specific minimum wage increases:

• Los Angeles City: $22.50 per hour for hotel and airport employees;
• Santa Monica: $22.50 per hour for hotel employees and employees of businesses operating on hotel property; and
• West Hollywood: $20.22 per hour for hotel employees.

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