California Governor Jerry Brown on September 25, 2013, signed into law a bill that increases the stateâs hourly minimum wage rate from $8.00 an hour up to $10.00 an hour by January 1, 2016.he rate increase will take effect in two stages: a $1.00 increase on July 1, 2014, to $9.00 an hour, and another $1.00 increase on January 1, 2016, to $10.00 an hour. The last time California increased its minimum wage was on January 1, 2007.