California Overtime Calculator
California is the only state with three tiers of overtime: 1.5× after 8 hours in a day, 2× after 12, and a separate rule for the 7th consecutive day. Enter your daily hours — this calculator applies all of them, then checks the 40-hour weekly rule too.
California overtime calculator — enter your hours
Gross pay for the week
$1,045.00
45 hours worked across 5 days
Quick answer: In California you earn 1.5× for hours over 8 in a workday, 2× for hours over 12, and every hour on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek is premium (1.5× for the first 8, 2× after). Weekly overtime after 40 hours still applies — you get whichever calculation pays more.
The California overtime rules (Labor Code §510)
California does not use a single 40-hour test. Each workday is measured on its own, and the premiums stack:
- Hours 0–8: regular pay.
- Hours 8–12 in a day: 1.5× the regular rate.
- Hours over 12 in a day: 2× the regular rate.
- 7th consecutive day in the same workweek: 1.5× for the first 8 hours and 2× after that, regardless of the weekly total.
- Over 40 in the workweek: 1.5× for the excess.
An employee is never paid twice for the same hour — you get the highest applicable rate, which is why a 9-hour day costs more than simply moving that hour into a weekly overtime count.
California also allows an alternative workweek schedule (for example four 10-hour days) if it was adopted by secret ballot; on a valid 4/10 schedule the daily threshold moves to 10 hours.
Missed meal or rest breaks add one hour of pay at the regular rate for each violation — that is a separate premium, not overtime, and is not included in the total above.
California minimum wage in 2026
California's minimum wage rose to $16.90/hour on 1 January 2026 for all employers regardless of size, after the two-tier small/large employer system was dropped. Many cities set higher local rates — San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Berkeley all sit well above the state floor, and a local ordinance always wins for work performed inside that city.
What an overtime week looks like in California
| Daily hours | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Weekly pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours worked | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — |
Green cells are hours 9–12 in a day (time and a half). Amber cells are hours after 12 (double time).
Worked examples
| Scenario | Rate | Week | Gross pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five 9-hour days | $22.00/hr | 45 h | $1,045.00 |
| One 14-hour shift + four 8-hour days | $22.00/hr | 46 h | $1,100.00 |
| Seven 8-hour days (7th-day rule) | $22.00/hr | 56 h | $1,408.00 |
| Six 10-hour days | $22.00/hr | 60 h | $1,540.00 |
Who is entitled to overtime in California?
The overtime rules cover non-exempt employees — most hourly workers, plus many salaried workers who do not meet the exemption tests. To be exempt in California an employee must satisfy the duties test and earn at least twice the state minimum wage, which is roughly $70,300 a year in 2026 (about one and a half times that for computer professionals).
Common misclassifications that generate back-pay claims: assistant managers doing the same shift work as the team, salaried-but-non-exempt staff, and piece-rate workers in agriculture or garment manufacturing.
Frequently asked questions
Is overtime after 8 hours or 40 hours in California?
Both. You get 1.5× for hours over 8 in a workday and 1.5× for hours over 40 in the workweek. California adds double time after 12 hours in a day.
What is the California 7th day rule?
On the 7th consecutive day worked in the same workweek, all hours are premium: 1.5× for the first 8 hours and 2× after that, even if you worked fewer than 40 hours in total.
Does California require double time?
Yes — 2× the regular rate for hours over 12 in a workday, and for hours over 8 on the 7th consecutive workday.
How much is overtime on $22 an hour in California?
$33/hour at time and a half, $44/hour at double time. A 12-hour day at $22 pays $176 regular plus $132 overtime, $308 in total.
Can my employer offer comp time instead of overtime?
No. Private employers in California cannot substitute comp time for overtime pay. Paid time off in lieu must be given on top of the overtime owed, at the employee's option.
Does salaried mean no overtime in California?
Not automatically. If your salary is below the exempt threshold or you fail the duties test, you are non-exempt and owed overtime for all hours over 8 in a day and 40 in a week.