Pasadena Employment Lawyer
By Aidin Ghavimi, Managing Attorney
Pasadena has its own minimum wage, its own mix of hospitals, research institutions, and financial firms, and a busy restaurant scene in Old Pasadena. Starpoint Law represents employees in all of it.
5 min read
Pasadena’s Minimum Wage Is Higher Than the State’s
Pasadena is one of only a handful of cities in Los Angeles County with its own minimum wage. Since July 1, 2026, employers have to pay at least $18.57 an hour for work done in Pasadena, compared with the state minimum of $16.90. The rate goes up every July 1. If you’re paid at or near the state minimum for work in Pasadena, check your pay stubs. Employers based elsewhere sometimes miss the local rate.
Healthcare and Research Jobs
In hospitals and medical groups, overtime and break violations often come with short staffing. Many healthcare workers are also covered by California’s separate healthcare minimum wage. At research institutions and engineering and finance firms, retaliation comes up more often. Someone raises a concern about billing, safety, or research practices, and a few weeks later they’re on a performance improvement plan. That timing is worth talking to a lawyer about. See our page on whistleblower retaliation.
Cases We Handle for Pasadena Employees
- Minimum wage, overtime, and break claims
- Wrongful termination
- Pregnancy discrimination and leave violations
- Disability discrimination and failure to accommodate
- Gender discrimination
Getting Started
Before I co-founded Starpoint, I spent years defending large companies and insurers. I know how an employer’s lawyers will look at your case, and I’ll tell you what I think of it at the first meeting. Our Sherman Oaks office connects to Pasadena directly on the 134, and we’re glad to meet by video. Asking about your pay is protected, and so is complaining about it. If you were punished for doing either, that’s a separate claim on top of the unpaid wages.
Nearby Areas We Serve
- Glendale employment lawyer
- Studio City employment lawyer
- Hollywood employment lawyer
- All California employment law cases we handle
Call us at (310) 424-9971 or send us a message for a free consultation. We work on contingency, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.
Our Sherman Oaks Office
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You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone.
Whether you were injured or mistreated at work, we’ll explain your options clearly — and guide you through every step. No fees up front. No pressure. Just answers.
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