California vs Montana: Minimum Wage
California has a higher minimum wage than Montana by $6.
Visual Comparison
Difference: $6 — California leads.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for minimum wage.
Top 10 States — Minimum Wage
Washington
California
New York
Connecticut
Hawaii
Oregon
New Jersey
Illinois
Maryland
Massachusetts
Montana
California ranks 2nd and Montana ranks 28th nationally for minimum wage.
Related Context
Minimum Wage in Context
A minimum wage only makes sense relative to what things cost and what the local market actually pays.
What This Means
California vs Montana: Minimum Wage in context
California has a minimum wage of $16.50/hr, compared with $10.55/hr in Montana, a gap of 56.4%. State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).
People Also Ask
California vs Montana Minimum Wage — Common Questions
Q What is California's minimum wage?
California's minimum wage is $16.50/hr.
Q What is Montana's minimum wage?
Montana's minimum wage is $10.55/hr.
Q Which state has a higher minimum wage — California or Montana?
California has a higher minimum wage than Montana by $6.
Q How much more minimum wage does California have compared to Montana?
$6.
More Comparisons: California vs Montana
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Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.