The city of San Diego has taken a significant step to improve the livelihoods of its hospitality workers. On July 1, 2026, the city’s Hospitality Minimum Wage Ordinance came into effect, raising the minimum wage for thousands of workers in the tourism industry.
This initiative, approved by the San Diego city council and signed into law by Mayor Todd Gloria in September of the previous year, aims to address the cost of living challenges faced by workers who keep the city’s tourism sector thriving.
Phased wage increases for different sectors
The ordinance introduces a phased increase in minimum wages for workers in various sectors of the hospitality industry. For employees at event centers such as Petco ParkPechanga Arena the Civic Theatre and the San Diego Convention Center the minimum wage will rise to $21.06 per hour in 2026, with annual increases reaching $25 per hour by 2030.
Workers in hotels with 150 or more rooms and amusement parks with more than 75 acres will see their minimum wage increase to $19 per hour in 2026, gradually rising to $25 per hour by 2030. This measure affects approximately 103 hotels which represent around 27% of the city’s hospitality businesses.
Support and opposition to the wage increase
City Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera who authored the legislation, emphasized the importance of this wage increase for the city’s workers. “For too long, the people who make San Diego the place millions want to visit haven’t been able to afford to live in the city they keep running,” he stated. Elo-Rivera highlighted that this raise is a result of workers organizing and demanding better wages, not merely corporate benevolence.
Mayor Todd Gloria also expressed his support for the ordinance, stating that making San Diego more affordable requires action on many fronts. “Our tourism industry is one of the cornerstones of San Diego’s economy, and today’s wage increase helps ensure the workers who welcome millions of visitors each year can better share in that success,” he said.
However, the wage increase has faced opposition from various business owners, including multinational hotel chains and small sports rental companies. Some entities, such as San Diego State University for Viejas Arena and the Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater as well as the San Diego Zoo are exempt from the measure. SeaWorld San Diego on the other hand, is not exempt and must comply with the new wage requirements.
Enforcement and future outlook
City Attorney Heather Ferbert assured that her office is committed to ensuring workers receive every dollar of their earned wages. “Every worker has the right to be paid what the law requires and to speak up without fear of retaliation,” she said. The city’s Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement will oversee and expand its work to support workers in obtaining their rightful wages.
The minimum wage for all other workers in San Diego is $17.75 per hour which took effect on January 1, 2026. The city’s Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance approved by voters in 2016, has seen annual increases since 2019, tied to the prior year’s cost-of-living increase.
Despite these increases, the cost of living in San Diego has risen independently. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator a single person without children needs to earn $32.88 per hour to support themselves, while a two-adult and one-child household would need $50.97 per hour.
The new ordinance is a significant step towards addressing the financial challenges faced by hospitality workers in San Diego. As the phased increases take effect, thousands of workers will see improved wages, helping them better afford the cost of living in one of California’s most popular tourist destinations.
