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California Overtime Calculator
Enter your hourly rate and the hours you worked each day to see your overtime under California law: daily overtime after 8 hours, double time after 12, weekly overtime and the 7th-day rule.
Estimate only, for a standard workweek with one hourly rate. It does not apply alternative workweek schedules, union contracts or bonuses.
How to use the California overtime calculator
- Enter your regular hourly rate. Use your normal pay per hour before overtime.
- Enter the hours you worked each day. Use decimals: 8.5 is 8 hours and 30 minutes. Put the days in the order of your employer's workweek, and leave days off at 0.
- Add missed break premiums if any. Each one adds one hour of pay at your regular rate.
- Press Calculate California overtime. You see regular, overtime and double-time hours, the pay for each, and how much more you earn compared with the federal weekly rule.
How does California overtime work?
California counts overtime by the day, by the week and by the 7th consecutive day. The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) publishes the rules, and most non-exempt employees are covered. The rates below are based on your regular rate of pay.
| Situation | Pay rate |
|---|---|
| First 8 hours in a workday | Regular rate (1x) |
| Hours 8 to 12 in a workday | Time and a half (1.5x) |
| Hours over 12 in a workday | Double time (2x) |
| Hours over 40 in a workweek (not already overtime) | Time and a half (1.5x) |
| First 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day of the workweek | Time and a half (1.5x) |
| Hours over 8 on the 7th consecutive day | Double time (2x) |
The federal rule is simpler: only hours over 40 in a workweek get time and a half. For the federal comparison, use the Overtime Calculator, which has both modes.
California overtime examples
All examples use a $20 regular rate and the same logic as the calculator. Pay is before taxes.
| Schedule | Total hours | Regular hrs | Overtime hrs | Double time hrs | Weekly pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days x 8 hours | 40 | 40 | 0 | 0 | $800.00 |
| 5 days x 9 hours | 45 | 40 | 5 | 0 | $950.00 |
| 4 days x 10 hours | 40 | 32 | 8 | 0 | $880.00 |
| 5 days x 10 hours | 50 | 40 | 10 | 0 | $1,100.00 |
| 3 days x 12 hours | 36 | 24 | 12 | 0 | $840.00 |
| 4 days x 12 hours | 48 | 32 | 16 | 0 | $1,120.00 |
| 3 days x 13 hours + 1 day x 8 | 47 | 32 | 12 | 3 | $1,120.00 |
| 6 days x 8 hours | 48 | 40 | 8 | 0 | $1,040.00 |
| 7 days x 8 hours | 56 | 40 | 16 | 0 | $1,280.00 |
| 7 days x 10 hours | 70 | 40 | 28 | 2 | $1,720.00 |
Look at the first and third rows. Five 8-hour days are 40 hours with no overtime, but four 10-hour days are also 40 hours and add 8 overtime hours under California's daily rule. In the sixth row, four 12-hour days give 16 overtime hours and no double time, because double time starts after hour 12. Row seven shows double time: a 13-hour day has 1 double-time hour.
California overtime pay by hours in one day
This table shows one workday at $20 an hour. It does not include the weekly or seventh-day rules.
| Hours worked in the day | Regular hrs | Overtime hrs (1.5x) | Double time hrs (2x) | Pay for the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 hours | 8 | 0 | 0 | $160.00 |
| 9 hours | 8 | 1 | 0 | $190.00 |
| 10 hours | 8 | 2 | 0 | $220.00 |
| 11 hours | 8 | 3 | 0 | $250.00 |
| 12 hours | 8 | 4 | 0 | $280.00 |
| 13 hours | 8 | 4 | 1 | $320.00 |
| 14 hours | 8 | 4 | 2 | $360.00 |
| 16 hours | 8 | 4 | 4 | $440.00 |
What is double time in California?
Double time means 2 times your regular hourly rate. California requires it for hours over 12 in a single workday and for hours over 8 on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek. Federal law does not require double time. If you earn $25 an hour, double time is $50 an hour. The chart shows common rates:
| Regular rate | Time and a half (1.5x) | Double time (2x) |
|---|---|---|
| $16.90 | $25.35 | $33.80 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $50.00 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 |
| $40.00 | $60.00 | $80.00 |
The first row is $16.90, the California statewide minimum wage for 2026 according to the DIR. Some cities and counties set a higher minimum wage, so your local rate may be higher.
How does the 7th consecutive day rule work?
If you work all seven days of your employer's workweek, the 7th day gets special treatment. The first 8 hours on that day are paid at 1.5 times your rate, and hours over 8 are paid at double time. The rule applies to a day worked as the 7th day in a row inside the same workweek, not to any seven days in a row across two weeks. In the calculator, put the 7th consecutive day in the last box. If all seven boxes have hours, the rule is applied automatically.
Is weekly overtime counted twice?
No. Hours that are already paid as daily overtime or double time are not paid again for the weekly 40-hour rule. The weekly rule only changes the hours that were counted as regular time. For example, working six 8-hour days gives 48 hours, all regular by the daily test, but the last 8 hours are over 40 for the week, so they are paid at 1.5x. The calculator converts those hours and shows the line in the result.
Do 4x10 schedules and 12-hour shifts get overtime?
In most workplaces, yes. Without an approved alternative workweek schedule, a 10-hour day has 2 overtime hours, even if the week is only 40 hours. A properly adopted alternative workweek schedule lets employees work longer days without daily overtime up to 10 hours, but hours past the scheduled day (and past 12 hours) are paid at the higher rates, and hours over 40 in the week are still paid at 1.5x. The schedule must be approved by a vote of affected employees and reported to the state. If your employer says your 4x10 or 3x12 schedule is exempt from daily overtime, ask to see the written alternative workweek agreement.
What counts as your regular rate in California?
Your regular rate is not always your hourly wage. It includes shift differentials and bonuses that are tied to performance or agreed in advance. Discretionary bonuses and true gifts are not included. If you earn a flat-sum bonus in a week with overtime, the bonus is spread over the non-overtime hours to find a higher regular rate, and the overtime rate is based on that. This calculator uses one flat rate, so use the rate on your pay stub if it differs from your base wage.
Meal and rest break premium pay
California generally requires a 30-minute meal period when you work more than 5 hours and a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours or major part of 4 hours. If your employer does not provide a required meal period or rest break, you can be owed one extra hour of pay at your regular rate for each workday that a meal period was missed, and another hour for each workday that a rest break was missed. This is a premium, not overtime, so it is shown on its own line in the calculator. Check your pay stub for lines called meal premium or rest premium.
Who is exempt from overtime in California?
A salary alone does not make someone exempt. To be exempt, an employee must meet both a salary test and a duties test. For 2026, the DIR lists the minimum exempt salary as $70,304 a year, which is twice the state minimum wage for a full-time job. Job duties still have to fit an exemption such as executive, administrative or professional. Convert a salary to an hourly rate with the Salary to Hourly Calculator to compare it with your real hours.
What if you think your California overtime was calculated wrong?
Start with your own records. Write down each day's start and end time and your breaks, then compare them with your pay stub. The Time Card Calculator can total your week from your clock times. If the numbers do not match, ask payroll or HR to explain the difference. If the problem is not fixed, you can contact the California Labor Commissioner's Office (Division of Labor Standards Enforcement) about filing a wage claim. There are time limits for wage claims, so do not wait too long.
Common California overtime mistakes
- Using only the 40-hour rule. California also counts the day, so a 10-hour day has overtime even in a 40-hour week.
- Paying 1.5x for all hours over 8. After 12 hours in a day the rate is 2x.
- Forgetting the 7th day. Seven days in a row in one workweek triggers its own rate.
- Using the base wage when the regular rate is higher. Bonuses and shift differentials can raise the rate.
- Treating unpaid meal breaks as work time. Only subtract a meal period if you were fully relieved of duty.
Frequently asked questions
How is overtime calculated in California?
California pays 1.5 times your regular rate for hours over 8 in a day (up to 12) and for hours over 40 in a week. Hours over 12 in a day are paid at 2 times your rate. On the 7th consecutive day of a workweek, the first 8 hours are paid at 1.5 times and hours over 8 at 2 times.
Do you get overtime after 8 hours in California?
Yes. Most non-exempt employees in California get time and a half for hours over 8 in a workday, even if the week stays under 40 hours. Alternative workweek schedules are the main exception.
When does double time start in California?
Double time starts after 12 hours in a single workday, and after 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek. It is paid at 2 times your regular rate.
Do 4x10 schedules get overtime in California?
Usually yes. Without a properly adopted alternative workweek schedule, hours 9 and 10 of each day are overtime. At $20 an hour, four 10-hour days pay $880 instead of $800.
How is the 7th consecutive day paid in California?
If you work all seven days of the workweek, the first 8 hours on the 7th day are paid at 1.5 times your rate, and hours over 8 on that day are paid at 2 times your rate.
Is weekly overtime also paid in California?
Yes. Hours over 40 in a workweek are paid at 1.5 times your rate, unless they are already counted as daily overtime or double time. The same hour is never paid twice.
What is the California minimum wage in 2026?
The statewide minimum wage is $16.90 an hour as of January 1, 2026, according to the California Department of Industrial Relations. Some cities and counties have higher rates.
What is the minimum salary to be exempt from overtime in California in 2026?
The DIR lists $70,304 a year for 2026, which is twice the state minimum wage for a full-time job. Employees must also meet a duties test to be exempt.
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Sources and further reading
- California Department of Industrial Relations: Overtime FAQ
- California Department of Industrial Relations: Minimum wage news release (2026 rates and exempt salary)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Fact Sheet #23, Overtime Pay Requirements of the FLSA
This calculator gives estimates for information only. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.