California overtime calculator
California overtime calculator
California pays overtime after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week, double time after 12 hours in a day, and special rates on the seventh consecutive day worked in a workweek.
Enter your hourly rate and the hours you worked each day of one workweek to see regular, overtime and double-time pay.
Last reviewed October 2026
California's daily rules add $25.00 compared with the federal weekly-only rule. Check that your payslip includes it.
Estimate at your base rate. If you earn shift differentials, overtime should use your blended regular rate. Exemptions and alternative schedules can change the result.
California overtime rules
| Rule | California |
|---|---|
| Weekly overtime | 1.5脳 after 40 hours in a workweek |
| Daily overtime | 1.5脳 after 8 hours, up to 12 hours in a workday |
| Double time | 2脳 after 12 hours in a workday |
| Seventh consecutive day | 1.5脳 for the first 8 hours, 2脳 after 8 hours |
| Minimum wage | $16.90 an hour from January 1, 2026. Some cities, counties and industries (such as fast food and health care) have higher minimums. |
Worked example
Four 10-hour days and one 6-hour day is 46 hours. Federal law pays 6 overtime hours. California pays 8, because each 10-hour day has 2 hours over 8, and the weekly rule adds nothing more since only 38 hours were regular.
Things that change the result
- Daily overtime hours don't count again toward the 40-hour weekly total, so no hour is paid overtime twice.
- Employers can adopt an alternative workweek schedule, such as four 10-hour days, which changes when daily overtime starts. Ask your employer whether one applies to you.
- Overtime is paid on your regular rate, which includes shift differentials and most bonuses. If you earn differentials, use the shift differential calculator to find your overtime rate.
- Managers and some salaried roles are exempt from overtime. This calculator assumes you are an hourly, non-exempt employee.
Questions
- Does California have daily overtime?
- Yes. California pays 1.5脳 after 8 hours, up to 12 hours in a workday.
- What is the overtime rate in California?
- Overtime is paid at 1.5 times the regular rate, and double time at 2 times the regular rate.
- Can my employer average hours over two weeks?
- No, not for the standard rule. Overtime is calculated for each workweek on its own, even when you're paid every two weeks. The main exception is the 8/80 system some hospitals and care facilities use by agreement.
Keep a record of every shift.
WageFlow does this math for every shift you log, so you can check each payslip. Free on iPhone, no account.
Official sources
This page explains general rules to help you estimate pay. It is not legal advice. Union contracts, employer policies, exemptions and local laws can change what applies to you. If you think you were underpaid, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.