West Hollywood's $19 Minimum Hourly Wage Highest In U.S.

The swanky, celebrity-studded city of West Hollywood officially has the highest minimum wage of any US city after pay zoomed to $19.08 an hour, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Photo Insert: West Hollywood, tucked between the cities of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, has about 35,000 people.

Workers in West Hollywood welcomed the increase amid rising rent, gas and food prices, although employers grumbled about growing labor costs that they say could drive them out of business.

Lucian Tudor, chief executive of upscale restaurant La Boheme, told the Los Angeles Times he has cut staff from 120 to 80 to trim costs. The city’s minimum wage climbed $1 in January to $17.50 an hour for businesses with at least 50 employees.

West Hollywood, tucked between the cities of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, has about 35,000 people.

The minimum wage also went up in other cities on Saturday. San Francisco’s minimum wage increased more than a $1 to $18.07 an hour. Los Angeles is now $16.78 an hour, and the minimum wage in Washington, D.C. is $17, up from $16.10 an hour.

Seattle had the highest minimum wage of any US city in January when its hourly rate increased to $18.69.

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