CACalifornia overtime laws and calculator
1.5x after 8 hours in a work day and after 40 in a work week. 2x after 12 hours in a work day. On the seventh consecutive day worked in a work week: 1.5x for the first 8 hours, 2x beyond 8. If you earn the California minimum wage of $16.90, your overtime rate is $25.35 an hour.
| California overtime rule | When it starts | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Long week | after 40 hours in a work week | 1.5 times |
| Long day | after 8 hours in a day | 1.5 times |
| Double time | after 12 hours in a day | 2 times |
| Seventh day in a row | first 8 hours at 1.5 times, then 2 times | |
| The law | Labor Code 510 and Wage Orderschecked October 29, 2026 | |
California pay and overtime calculator
What these words mean
- Overtime
- Extra pay for extra hours. Federal law says 1.5 times your normal rate for every hour over 40 in a work week. Some states add rules for long days.
- Time and a half (1.5x)
- Your normal hourly rate plus half again. $20 an hour becomes $30.
- Double time (2x)
- Twice your normal rate. $20 an hour becomes $40. Only California requires it by law.
- Work week
- The fixed 7-day period your employer uses to count hours. It can start on any day, and overtime is counted inside it.
- True hourly rate
- What you really earn per hour once bonuses, commissions or shift extras are added in. Overtime is owed on this rate, not just your base rate.
- Exempt
- A worker who is not owed overtime because of the kind of job and a salary above a set level. Being salaried alone does not make you exempt.
- Wage complaint
- A free claim you file with your state labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor when you are not paid what the law requires.
Questions
Do I get overtime for a long day in California, or only for a long week?
Both. 1.5x after 8 hours in a work day and after 40 in a work week. 2x after 12 hours in a work day. On the seventh consecutive day worked in a work week: 1.5x for the first 8 hours, 2x beyond 8.
How much is overtime pay in California?
1.5 times your true hourly rate. If you earn the California minimum wage of $16.90, overtime is $25.35 an hour. Double time ($33.80 at minimum wage) starts after 12 hours in a day.
Can my boss make me work overtime in California?
Yes, if you are an adult. No federal or California law limits the hours an employer can ask for, as long as the overtime is paid. Nurses, drivers and a few other jobs have their own limits.
Who does not get overtime in California?
Mostly managers, administrators and professionals who are paid a salary of at least $684 a week ($35,568 a year) and whose job duties fit the federal tests, plus outside sales staff and some computer jobs. Being on a salary by itself does not take away your overtime.
Do paid holidays and sick days count toward the 40 hours?
No. Only hours you actually worked count toward overtime.
My overtime was not paid. What now?
Keep your own record of hours, ask your employer in writing, and if that fails file a free wage complaint with the California labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor. You can usually claim up to two or three years back.