California Overtime Pay Calculator
Calculate daily and weekly overtime pay under California labor law, which requires daily overtime after 8 hours and double time after 12 hours in a workday.
How to use this tool
- Enter regular hourly rate, hours worked - day 1, hours worked - day 2, hours worked - day 3, hours worked - day 4, hours worked - day 5, hours worked - day 6 (optional) and hours worked - day 7 (7th consecutive day) in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your total gross pay and the full breakdown beneath it.
⚠ This tool provides general estimates for education only and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures may not reflect your situation — verify with a qualified professional.
Formula
California Labor Code §510 daily overtime rules:
Hours 0–8 per day (days 1–6): Regular rate × 1.0Hours 8–12 per day (days 1–6): Regular rate × 1.5Hours >12 per day (days 1–6): Regular rate × 2.07th consecutive day, hours 0–8: Regular rate × 1.57th consecutive day, hours >8: Regular rate × 2.0
Weekly overtime (regular hours beyond 40 in the workweek) also paid at 1.5×.
How it works
California is one of the few states with daily overtime requirements in addition to the federal 40-hour weekly threshold. Under California Labor Code Section 510, employees earn 1.5x their regular rate for hours worked beyond 8 in a workday and 2x for hours worked beyond 12 in a workday.
On the seventh consecutive day in a workweek, all hours up to 8 are paid at 1.5x and all hours beyond 8 are paid at 2x. Weekly overtime (hours beyond 40 in the workweek, from regular hours on days 1–6) is also paid at 1.5x, applied only to the extent those hours are not already receiving a daily overtime premium.
Worked example
Employee works 10 hours on Monday, 8 hours each Tue-Fri
- Day 1 (Monday, 10 hrs): 8 regular + 2 daily OT hrs (hrs 8-10 at 1.5x)
- Days 2-5 (Tue-Fri, 8 hrs each): 4 × 8 = 32 regular hrs; no daily OT
- Total regular hours = 8 + 32 = 40 hrs; weekly OT = max(0, 40 - 40) = 0
- Regular pay = 40 × $20 = $800; Daily OT pay = 2 × $20 × 1.5 = $60
- Gross pay = $800 + $60 = $860
Total gross pay is $860 for the week.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying only federal overtime (after 40 weekly hours) and ignoring California's daily overtime trigger after 8 hours, which understates overtime owed.
- Forgetting that the 7th consecutive workday in a workweek triggers time-and-a-half for the first 8 hours and double time beyond 8 hours, even if weekly hours are under 40.
- Using the wrong workweek start date — California overtime is calculated within a fixed 7-day workweek as defined by the employer, not a rolling 7-day period.
Key terms
- Daily overtime
- California's requirement to pay 1.5x for hours worked beyond 8 in a single workday, which is additional to federal weekly overtime rules.
- Double time
- Pay at twice the regular rate, required in California for hours beyond 12 in a workday or beyond 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek.
- Regular rate of pay
- The base hourly rate used to calculate overtime premiums; under California law it may also include non-discretionary bonuses.
- Workweek
- Any seven consecutive days designated by the employer; overtime thresholds are calculated fresh for each workweek.
Frequently asked questions
- Does California overtime apply to salaried employees?
- Most salaried non-exempt employees are covered. Employees classified as exempt (executive, administrative, or professional) under California law are not entitled to overtime.
- What is double time in California?
- Double time is 2x the regular rate. It applies after 12 hours in a single workday, and for all hours on the 7th consecutive day of work in a workweek.
- How does California daily overtime interact with weekly overtime?
- You owe whichever is greater on a given day, not both. California Labor Code requires you to pay daily overtime when triggered, and the 40-hour weekly rule applies to remaining hours. Employees cannot be paid overtime twice for the same hours.