California Overtime Calculator

Understanding California Overtime Rules

Overtime in California kicks in after 40 hours per week, though certain exempt employees (salaried professionals, executives, and administrative staff) are excluded from these protections. Non-exempt workers earn a multiplier on their base hourly rate—commonly 1.5× for the first eight hours of overtime in a workday and 2× for hours beyond that or for seventh consecutive days worked.

• Standard threshold: 40 hours per week triggers overtime eligibility
• Common multipliers: 1.5× (time-and-a-half) is the most frequent rate; some industries or agreements specify higher rates
• Eligibility: Hourly and non-exempt salaried workers qualify; exempt professionals typically do not
• Tracking: Employers must maintain accurate timesheets to calculate overtime correctly

State law supersedes federal rules when California's overtime protections are more generous, so workers benefit from the stricter standard.

Overtime Pay Calculation

Your gross pay combines earnings from regular hours and overtime hours. The formulas below show how these components connect:

• Regular Hourly Rate — Your base wage per hour before any multiplier
• Regular Hours Worked — Hours worked up to 40 per week (or the threshold before overtime applies)
• Overtime Multiplier — The factor applied to your base rate for hours beyond the threshold (typically 1.5 or 2)
• Overtime Hours Worked — Hours exceeding the 40-hour weekly threshold

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ensure accuracy when calculating overtime by watching for these frequent pitfalls:

1. Confusing weekly and daily overtime — California recognizes both weekly overtime (over 40 hours in a week) and daily overtime (over 8 hours in a day). An hour may qualify for both rules—use whichever gives the higher rate. Daily overtime of more than 12 hours triggers the 2× multiplier.
2. Forgetting the seventh-day rule — Working on the seventh consecutive day triggers overtime pay even if weekly hours haven't reached 40. This is a frequently overlooked provision that can significantly increase your paycheck.
3. Miscalculating the multiplier — Verify the exact overtime multiplier in your employment agreement or industry standard. While 1.5× is standard for most roles, some contracts or collective bargaining agreements specify different rates for different hours.
4. Ignoring state versus federal rules — California overtime laws are stricter than federal Fair Labor Standards Act rules. Always apply California law since your employer must comply with whichever standard is more favorable to you.

Real-World Example

Suppose you earn $25 per hour and work 48 hours in a week. Here's how your pay breaks down:

• Regular pay: 40 hours × $25 = $1,000
• Overtime rate: $25 × 1.5 = $37.50 per hour
• Overtime pay: 8 hours × $37.50 = $300
• Total weekly gross: $1,000 + $300 = $1,300

Over a year with consistent 48-hour weeks, this overtime adds approximately $15,600 to your annual earnings compared to a standard 40-hour schedule. Knowing this figure helps you budget and understand the true value of extra hours.