Los Angeles Minimum Wage 2025: What Caregivers Must Be Paid
Caregivers play an essential role in Los Angeles—supporting seniors, individuals with disabilities, and families who depend on compassionate, reliable care. But as important as this work is, many caregivers in Los Angeles are not being paid according to the law.
If you are an in-home caregiver, live-in caregiver, or work in a caregiving facility, you may not be paid the correct minimum wage or overtime rate—and you may be owed significant unpaid wages.
This blog explains the 2025 Los Angeles minimum wage, how it applies to caregivers, and what you can do if your employer is underpaying you.
Los Angeles Has a Higher Minimum Wage Than the State
As of 2025, the statewide minimum wage in California is $16.50 per hour.
However, Los Angeles has its own minimum wage, which is higher than the state’s.
If you work within the City of Los Angeles, your employer must pay you the Los Angeles city minimum wage, not the lower statewide wage.
For many caregivers, this difference adds up to thousands of dollars each year.
Daily Rates Usually Violate LA Wage Laws
Many caregivers are paid a flat daily rate, such as:
$150 per day
$180 per day
$200 per day
But daily rates are often illegal because they rarely meet LA’s minimum wage requirements once your hours are divided.
Example:
If you work a 24-hour shift and get paid $200, that breaks down to less than $9 per hour—far below the Los Angeles minimum wage.
That means you are likely owed:
Unpaid minimum wages
Overtime
Penalties
Interest
And these claims can go back up to 4 years.
Los Angeles Caregivers Must Be Paid Overtime
Under California law, caregivers must receive:
• Overtime after 9 hours in a day
• Overtime after 45 hours in a week
This applies to all domestic workers and caregivers—even if your employer pays you a salary or flat daily rate.
If your pay does not include overtime, you may be owed unpaid wages.
You Are Protected—Even If You’re Undocumented
Many caregivers in Los Angeles worry about asking questions because of their immigration status.
But California law provides strong protections, including:
Employers cannot use your immigration status against you
Employers cannot retaliate for asking about your pay
You have the same wage rights as every other caregiver
Your right to fair pay does not depend on your immigration status.
How Kevin & Lauren Help Caregivers
At CaregiverOvertime.com, attorneys Kevin and Lauren focus exclusively on caregiver wage cases.
They have:
Represented hundreds of caregivers across California
Recovered more than $70 million in unpaid wages
Helped caregivers who were paid flat rates, misclassified as contractors, or denied overtime
Every consultation is free and confidential.
If you work long or overnight shifts in Los Angeles, it’s worth checking whether you’ve been paid correctly.
What To Do If You Think You’re Underpaid
Write down your hours (start, stop, overnight).
Keep pay stubs, Zelle/Venmo records, or text messages about your pay.
Visit CaregiverOvertime.com for a free case review.
Don’t wait—claims can expire after a few years.
Conclusion
Los Angeles has stronger wage laws than most cities in the country. Caregivers deserve fair pay—especially in a city where the cost of living is so high.
If you’re a caregiver in Los Angeles and you’re not being paid the correct hourly rate or overtime, you may be owed thousands of dollars in back wages.