News Summary
The San Diego City Council has unanimously voted to implement a $25 minimum wage for low-paid service workers in the tourism industry, to be phased in over four years. This decision, supported by a large turnout of advocates, addresses rising living costs and aims to uplift employee salaries without disrupting existing labor contracts. While some local business groups have expressed concerns over potential job losses, proponents argue the increase will promote economic vitality in local communities.
San Diego – The San Diego City Council has unanimously approved a landmark decision to implement a $25 minimum wage for low-paid service workers in the tourism industry, with the increase set to be phased in over the next four years. The vote, which took place with an 8-0 tally, saw Councilmember Raul Campillo absent from the meeting. The new wage structure will begin on July 1, 2026, and culminate in 2030, representing a 45% increase from the current citywide minimum wage of $17.25 per hour.
The council’s move comes after significant negotiations that included input from various stakeholders within the tourism sector. A considerable turnout at the council meeting drew hundreds of supporters who wore “Respect Our Work” T-shirts, advocating for better wages in light of increasing living costs.
The approved wage increase chiefly targets thousands of employees working in roles essential to the tourism industry, including hotel housekeepers, ballpark ticket takers, and various event staff. Specifically, hotels with 150 or more rooms, as well as major amusement parks like SeaWorld, are set to begin paying employees $19 an hour starting in 2026, with incremental raises of $1.50 each year until the wage reaches $25 in 2030. Workers at Petco Park will start at $21.06 in 2026, also increasing to $25 within the same period. The change is expected to impact 89 larger hotels in San Diego, which collectively offer over 27,000 guest rooms, while additionally influencing the approximately 180 smaller hotels housing more than 12,000 rooms.
While the wage mandates will uplift employee salaries, they will not disrupt already negotiated labor contracts. Notably, workers at the San Diego Zoo will remain unaffected due to a prior agreement that secured better wages for them.
Opposition to the wage increase surfaced primarily from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, which has raised $1.6 million to potentially finance a ballot measure aimed at overturning the decision. Critics argue that raising the minimum wage may lead to job losses and increased operational costs for businesses in the local tourism sector. Despite these concerns, proponents, including Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, argue that the increase is a necessary step towards ensuring fairness and dignity in wages, especially as the cost of living in San Diego continues to rise. Estimates suggest that a single individual requires a living wage of over $30 per hour to maintain a decent standard of living in the area.
Comparative analyses show that other cities in California, such as Long Beach and Los Angeles, have adopted similar minimum wage proposals, providing further context for San Diego’s decision. As cities across the state grapple with rises in living expenses, the San Diego City Council’s decision aims to address economic disparities affecting the tourism workforce.
The San Diego County Lodging Association has expressed significant concerns regarding the financial implications of the wage increase, deeming it a potential challenge within the broader economics of the hospitality industry. Proponents of the wage increase, however, maintain that boosting worker salaries will contribute positively to the overall economic vitality of local communities and stimulate business growth in the long run.
As the timeline for the phased-in wage increase approaches, the council’s decision marks a pivotal moment in San Diego’s labor landscape, positioning the city as a frontrunner in worker advocacy within the tourism sector.
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Additional Resources
- 10 News
- Wikipedia: Minimum Wage
- Fox 5 San Diego
- Google Search: San Diego minimum wage
- NBC San Diego
- Google Scholar: Minimum Wage California
- San Diego Union-Tribune
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Minimum Wage
- Times of San Diego
- Google News: Minimum Wage California
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
