SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A San Diego City Council committee is considering a proposal to raise the minimum wage for workers in the tourism and hospitality industry to $25.
The proposal was presented by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera on Wednesday at the second meeting of the Select Committee on Addressing Cost of Living.
Elo-Rivera first announced the proposal back in February, followed by a draft ordinance with a planned effective start date of Jan. 1, 2026.
If approved, the ordinance would establish a $25 hourly minimum wage for workers at amusement parks, event centers, hotels and zoos.
They would include people employed at city-owned facilities like Petco Park, Pechanga Arena, the San Diego Convention Center and the San Diego Civic Theatre, as well as Snapdragon Stadium and Viejas Arena. The wage increase would also affect those who work at hotels with at least 150 guest rooms.
According to an updated staff report on June 17, the hospitality industry is one of San Diego’s largest economic sectors and tourism contributes to the “backbone of San Diego’s economy.”
The San Diego Tourism Authority stated the city had 32 million visitors who contributed $22 billion to the local economy last year.
However, local residents continue to face issues regarding housing affordability and the high cost of living. The minimum wage has increased 15% in the last three years and lags behind other major cities in offering “competitive pay” in the hospitality industry, the staff report stated.
The city first introduced a minimum wage ordinance in 2016 at $10.50 for all employees working within its geographic boundaries. As of Jan. 1, the minimum hourly wage in San Diego is $17.25.
Raising the minimum wage for tourism and hospitality workers is meant to help benefit San Diegans who play a direct role in making the city a major tourism destination.
According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Living Wage Calculator tool, a single-person household would need an income of $30.71 an hour in San Diego County while working full-time to live comfortably. Meanwhile, a two-adult and one-child household would need to earn at least $49.13 an hour.
If approved, the proposed ordinance would match the federal or state minimum wages, if they exceed the city’s minimum wage for the relevant occupations.
The proposal would still need to pass through a municipal process before it goes to the city council for a vote. If approved, it would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
