Living Wage

In 2000, City Council adopted a Living Wage Ordinance (Chapter 5.10) that requires contractors to pay their employees the City's living wage rate when those employees are working on City jobs.

Fiscal Year 2026 Living Wage Rates

Period: July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026

The minimum wage rate for employees of City contractors are:

  1. If benefits are provided, a wage of at least $21.20 per hour.
  2. If benefits are not provided, a wage of at least $23.13 per hour.

FY 2026 Living Wage Compliance Form(PDF, 239KB)

Fiscal Year 2027 Living Wage Rates

Period: July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027

The minimum wage rate for employees of City contractors are:

  1. If benefits are provided, a wage of at least $21.77 per hour.
  2. If benefits are not provided, a wage of at least $23.76 per hour.

FY2027 Living Wage Compliance Form(PDF, 759KB)

Additional Resources

Living Wage Ordinance

Please direct inquiries to:

City of Santa Cruz, Finance Department
Purchasing Division
1200 Pacific Avenue, Suite 290
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: 831-420-5080
dl_purchasing@santacruzca.gov

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