Starting today, many of San Diego's hospitality workers will see their paychecks climb. Under a new city ordinance, employees at covered hotels and amusement parks will earn at least $19 an hour, while staff at covered event centers will start at $21.06. It is the first step in a phased plan to reach $25 an hour by 2030.
The Hospitality Minimum Wage Ordinance sets out a year-by-year schedule. Hotels and amusement parks covered by the law move to $19 an hour today, then step up annually until they hit $25 by July 1, 2030. Event centers start higher, at $21.06 today, and also phase up to $25 by 2030. Beginning July 1, 2031, future increases will be tied to the consumer price index so the rates can adjust with inflation. The current rates and full ordinance text are posted by the city's Office of Labor Standards & Enforcement, according to the City of San Diego.
Who Is Covered
The law applies to employees who perform at least two hours of work in a work week for a covered hospitality employer inside the city. That includes hotels with 150 or more guest rooms, event centers such as Petco Park, Pechanga Arena, the San Diego Convention Center and the Civic Theatre, and amusement parks that occupy 75 contiguous acres and operate under a city agreement. The ordinance uses these size and venue thresholds so the higher wage applies to a defined slice of the tourism industry. Local reporting found the thresholds would affect about 103 hotels in the city.
What Employers Must Do
Covered employers are required to post the official workplace notice in a clearly visible spot and to provide written notice to employees on the ordinance's effective date and at hiring. The city supplies multilingual posters and employee acknowledgment forms. The notice outlines wage and overtime calculation rules and bars retaliation against workers who assert their rights. It also includes complaint forms and lists contact details for the Office of Labor Standards & Enforcement, including [email protected] and 619-235-5912, according to the City of San Diego.
City, Business and Labor Reaction
Supporters have framed the new ordinance as a dignity measure and a correction for workers who clean rooms, staff events and keep the tourism economy running. Business groups counter that the carveouts and sector-specific mandate could push higher costs onto consumers or trigger scheduling changes as employers manage payroll. The City Council approved the ordinance in September 2025, and Mayor Todd Gloria signed it into law. Local reporting captured both Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera's defense of the move and the San Diego Regional Chamber's warning about added costs, as noted by Inside San Diego.
How Employers Should Prepare
Employers with workers in affected roles are being urged to review payroll systems, contractor agreements and timekeeping to be sure wages and overtime are calculated using the new hospitality rates. Legal advisors note that businesses should update posted notices, retrain payroll staff and confirm whether subcontractors or vendors working on venue grounds fall under the ordinance. A practical employer roundup that includes San Diego's hospitality rate is available from employment counsel at Davis Wright Tremaine.
How Workers Can Get Help
Workers who believe they are not being paid the required hospitality rate can file a complaint with the city's Minimum Wage Program or pursue a civil claim. The ordinance includes anti-retaliation protections. For questions about coverage, tips and overtime calculations, employees can review the posted workplace notice and contact the Office of Labor Standards & Enforcement or a labor-rights organization for guidance.
