California vs Texas

Jobs Comparison

California

Texas

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

Overview

Key differences

Minimum Wage

California has a higher minimum wage than Texas by $9.

Unemployment Benefit

Texas pays a higher maximum weekly unemployment benefit than California by $113.

Metric	CA	TX	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	$7.25/hr	Details ->
Unemployment Benefit Maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit (IndeedFlex 2026).	$450/wk	$563/wk	Details ->