● The average Orange County household spends about $77,024/year on expenses, with 36.7% going toward housing. ● The estimated “living wage” for a family of four is approximately $109,833–$114,841/year to cover basic needs. ● Housing affordability challenges remain high, and housing cost burden continues to influence wage expectations across many roles. Why this impacts salaries: High household spending and living wage benchmarks mean employers must offer more competitive pay, especially in industries where housing costs affect recruitment and retention. Cost of Living Insights SB 294 – Workplace Know Your Rights Act Notices ● Starting Feb 1, 2026, employers must provide an annual “Know Your Rights” notice to employees. ● Must cover workers’ comp, immigration protections, union/concerted activity, and rights during law enforcement interactions. ● Must be provided in the employee’s workplace communication language. ● Employees must be able to designate an emergency contact by March 30, 2026. Why that impacts salary: Adds compliance workload and accelerates onboarding/policy standardization. SB 617 – Cal-WARN Notice Updates ● Effective Jan 1, 2026, Cal-WARN notices must include expanded required details. ● Must include local workforce board coordination info and CalFresh assistance contacts. ● If coordinating services, employers must arrange them within 30 days. Why that impacts salary: Increases risk and admin demands during workforce reductions. Legislation Insights ● Advanced manufacturing in OC employs about 130,342 people, representing 13.5% of California’s advanced manufacturing jobs. ● The sector remains positive, but is projected to decline by ~6% over 5 years (≈ 8,144 jobs). ● Average earnings per advanced manufacturing job remain strong at approximately $91,177 annually, exceeding many local sectors. Why that impacts salary: Employers must offer competitive wages to attract and retain skilled talent, even with labor pool shifts due to sector contraction. Orange County Insights California Minimum Wage & Exempt Thresholds ● As of Jan 1, 2026, California’s minimum wage is $16.90/hour (up from $16.50 in 2025). ● The exempt salary threshold increases to $70,304/year (≈ $5,859/month) because exempt employees must earn at least 2x minimum wage. ● Roles below this threshold cannot legally be classified as exempt. ● Employers must decide whether to reclassify positions (nonexempt) or increase salaries to remain compliant. Why that impacts salary: A higher wage floor raises entry-level pay and creates upward pressure on pay bands—often compressing wage structures and increasing labor costs for hourly-heavy industries. Wage Insights Request A Custom Salary Guide