SURPRISE: Popular Craft Store in CA Raises Minimum Wage to Almost $20

In a surprise move, a popular craft store in California has voluntarily raised the minimum wage for its employees to nearly $20 an hour.

The wage increase is seen as a blessing and a class act move by some people and has left others wondering how it will affect the experience and pricing at the stores.

Hobby Lobby Minimum Wage Increase in 2024

Hobby Lobby was recently in the news for possibly sharing financial information on the paper they used to make decorative pumpkins. But they are also in the news for a different financial move. They have announced that they are paying their employees a minimum wage of nearly $20 an hour. The minimum wage in California is $16 an hour.

The wage increase, to $19.25, for full-time hourly employees went into effect on October 1st. Hobby Lobby has a history of paying their employees a higher wage than required by law. According to a press release from the company website, there are 1,035 Hobby Lobby stores and 66 of them are in California. That’s more locations than any other states besides Texas, with 116 stores.

Get our free mobile app

There have been 2 new Hobby Lobby locations opened in 2024. A store opening was announced in January for a store in Hayward and another was announced in May for Pasadena.

RELATED STORY: The 3 Most Popular Jobs in California

Earlier this year, the minimum wage for most fast food employees in California was raised to $20. There was worry at the time that the wage increase would affect food prices, but a study by the University of California Berkley proves that the raised minimum wage didn’t lead to massive job losses of price increases.