In-N-Out Burger Raises Prices in Response to California Minimum Wage Law

California residents will pay more for a quick bite at the legendary burger chain In-N-Out in response to the California minimum wage hike.

KTVU reports that the burger chain substantially raised its prices on the same day Sunshine State’s fast-food minimum wage law was enacted.

“On April 1st, we raised our prices incrementally to accompany a pay raise for all of the Associates working in our California restaurants. The price increase was also necessary to maintain our quality standards,” the company said in a statement.

Today, In-N-Out restaurant employees’ starting wages are $22 to $23 an hour. This is an increase over the $20 minimum mandated by the new law.

In-N-Out says the higher price is due to the state's new $20 minimum wage for fast food workers. https://t.co/1BF7QVO2cy pic.twitter.com/XY7RemuZVJ

— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) June 11, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation AB 1228 into law in September, which went into effect on April 1. Per Fox Business, he said at the time, “California is home to more than 500,000 fast-food workers who — for decades — have been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions.”

After the legislation passed on April 1, In-N-Out raised associates’ wages in California by $2 per hour.

Los Angeles Magazine reported that the burger chain increased its prices to $10.45 for the double-double combo, $8.65 for the cheeseburger combo, and $8.15 for the hamburger combo, all before tax. Prices are not thought to have risen at locations outside of the Golden State.

According to its website, In-N-Out began with one store in 1948: a drive-thru hamburger stand in a barely 100-square-foot space at Francisquito and Garvey in Baldwin Park. That same year, the chain introduced the first talk box, which allowed customers to have an authentic drive-in experience. In 1961, the chain’s iconic Animal Burger debuted, and the Double-Double was introduced two years later.