California vs New York

Jobs Comparison

California

New York

How California and New York compare on jobs: minimum wage, unemployment benefit, and more.

Overview

Key differences

Unemployment Benefit

New York pays a higher maximum weekly unemployment benefit than California by $54.

Metric	CA	NY	Deep dive
Minimum Wage State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).	$16.50/hr	$16.50/hr	Details ->
Unemployment Benefit Maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit (IndeedFlex 2026).	$450/wk	$504/wk	Details ->