10.7.21
By Jennifer Jacobus, PHRca, SDEA Director of HR Services. 
Effective January 1, 2022, employers may find it necessary to give pay increases in accordance with new minimum wage requirements. The City of San Diego just released the 2022 minimum wage. With California’s minimum wage is increasing as well, now is the time to plan and make necessary adjustments to your budgets!
On January 1, 2022, the city of San Diego’s minimum wage will increase from $14/hour to $15/hour. As a reminder, the city’s minimum wage is applicable to any employee who performs at least two (2) hours of work in one or more calendar weeks of the year within the geographic boundaries of San Diego. This applies to all companies in the geographical boundaries, regardless of company size.
For those companies that do not fall within the city boundaries, California’s minimum wage applies; this too will increase effective January 1, 2022 as follows:
- For employers with 25 or less employees, the minimum wage will increase from $13/hour to $14/hour
- For employers with 26 or more employees, the minimum wage will increase from $14/hour to $15/hour
Because the state minimum wage is tied to minimum salary requirements for exempt employees, this also increases effective January 1, 2022. The minimum salary that can be paid to a properly classified exempt employee (one who meets the salary test AND the duties test) must be equal to two times the current minimum wage as follows:
- For employers with 25 or less employees, the minimum exempt salary requirement will increase to $58,240/annually
- For employers with 26 or more employees, the minimum exempt salary requirement will increase to $62,400/annually
While employers are required to pay an employee a least minimum wage, if the minimum salary for exempt employees is a financial hardship, employers could change an exempt employee to a non-exempt employee at a lower rate and pay them on an hourly basis, including any applicable overtime.
Remember that SDEA is here to help and provide guidance. SDEA members have access to unlimited consultation with our HR Consultants; just a call away — 858.505.0024.