California Overtime Calculator
Enter your hourly rate and daily hours for the workweek. The calculator applies California Labor Code section 510 automatically: daily overtime (over 8 hours at 1.5x), daily double time (over 12 hours at 2x), weekly overtime (over 40 hours at 1.5x), and 7th consecutive day rules. You see a full pay breakdown by hour type and a day-by-day schedule.
How California overtime works
California has some of the most employee-protective overtime laws in the United States. Under Labor Code section 510, nonexempt employees earn overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour worked beyond 8 in a single workday, not just beyond 40 in a week. They also earn double time (2 times the regular rate) for every hour beyond 12 in a single day. These daily rules operate alongside the federal 40-hour weekly rule: whichever combination produces the greatest overtime pay for the employee is the one the employer must use. Both daily and weekly overtime can add up in the same pay period, and they are not mutually exclusive.
The 7th consecutive day rule
If an employee works all 7 days of the employer-defined workweek, the 7th consecutive day carries special protections. The first 8 hours on that day are paid at 1.5x the regular rate, and any hours beyond 8 are paid at 2x. This is a higher floor than a normal day, where the first 8 hours are at straight time. To qualify for the 7th-day premium, the employee must have worked at least some time on each of the preceding 6 days within the same workweek. A workweek is a fixed, recurring period of 7 consecutive days set by the employer, not necessarily Sunday to Saturday.
What counts as regular rate of pay
The base for California overtime is not just the hourly rate on a pay stub. The regular rate of pay must include most non-discretionary compensation earned in the workweek: hourly wages, non-discretionary bonuses, commissions, and piece-rate earnings. Discretionary bonuses, holiday gifts, and certain expense reimbursements are excluded. If you receive a non-discretionary bonus, your employer must recalculate the regular rate for the affected weeks and pay any additional overtime owed. This is a common area of wage theft that employees often miss.
Who is covered and who is exempt
California overtime protections apply to nonexempt hourly and salaried workers. Common exemptions include executive, administrative, and professional employees who earn more than twice the state minimum wage and primarily perform exempt duties. Outside salespersons, certain unionized workers under collective bargaining agreements, and some healthcare industry employees under alternative workweek schedules also operate under modified rules. Independent contractors are not covered by California overtime law, but misclassification is heavily scrutinized under AB5. If you are unsure of your classification, consult a California employment attorney.
California overtime rate rules at a glance
| Scenario | Hours / Threshold | Pay rate |
|---|---|---|
| Regular daily hours | Up to 8 hrs/day | 1x (base rate) |
| Daily overtime | Over 8 and up to 12 hrs/day | 1.5x |
| Daily double time | Over 12 hrs/day | 2x |
| Weekly overtime | Over 40 hrs/workweek | 1.5x |
| 7th consecutive day - first 8 hrs | Hours 1-8 on 7th straight day | 1.5x |
| 7th consecutive day - beyond 8 hrs | Over 8 hrs on 7th straight day | 2x |
California Labor Code section 510 (standard workweek). These rules apply to nonexempt employees.
Frequently asked questions
Does California overtime apply daily or only weekly?
Both. California law triggers overtime after 8 hours in a single workday (not just after 40 hours in a week). If you work 9 hours on Tuesday, the 9th hour is overtime regardless of how many total hours you have worked that week. The weekly 40-hour rule still applies on top of the daily rule, so you can accumulate both daily OT and weekly OT in the same workweek.
What is double time in California?
Double time means you earn 2 times your regular rate of pay. It applies in two situations: any hours beyond 12 in a single workday, and any hours beyond 8 on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek. For example, if your regular rate is $20/hr, double time pays $40/hr. This is more generous than federal law, which does not require double time at all.
What if I work more than 40 hours but never exceed 8 hours in one day?
In that case, only the weekly overtime rule applies. Hours 41 and beyond in the workweek are paid at 1.5x. However, if any single day exceeds 8 hours, the daily overtime rule kicks in for those hours, and those same hours generally cannot be double-counted under both rules - California uses whichever approach gives the employee more pay.
Does my employer set the workweek, or is it always Sunday to Saturday?
Your employer sets the workweek, but it must be a fixed, recurring 7-consecutive-day period that does not change week to week to avoid overtime liability. It can start on any day of the week. The 7th-consecutive-day premium is based on this employer-defined workweek, not on a calendar week. Your employer is required to disclose the designated workweek.
Can my employer average hours across two weeks to avoid overtime?
No. California law prohibits averaging hours over two or more weeks to calculate overtime. Each workweek stands alone. If you work 30 hours one week and 50 hours the next, the 50-hour week triggers 10 hours of overtime even though the two-week average is 40 hours.
What is the California minimum wage in 2026?
The California state minimum wage is $16.90 per hour as of January 1, 2026, for all employers regardless of size (up from $16.50 in 2025). Many cities and counties have higher local minimums. Fast food workers covered by the FAST Recovery Act may have different rates. Overtime is calculated on top of whichever minimum wage applies to the employee.