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California Overtime Calculator

Daily 8/12-hour rules, 7th consecutive day, and the weekly top-up — with meal-premium flags. Enter one day or use the full-week version.

24-hour (18:15) or 12-hour (6:15 pm) both work; overnight shifts detected.

Day's gross pay
$220.00
10.00 h worked
Regular
8.00 h
$160.00
OT 1.5×
2.00 h
$60.00
DT 2×
0.00 h
—

Full week with dates, multiple employees and exports: use the time card calculator with “California rules” checked in options.

The daily rules, visualized

Hours in the dayRate bucket
1–8straight time
8–12 (over 8)1.5×
over 122×
7th consecutive day, first 8 h1.5×
7th consecutive day, over 8 h2×
Weekly total over 40 (not already OT)1.5×

Daily OT also counts toward the weekly 40

Six 9-hour days = 54 hours: each day already pays 1 hour of daily OT (6 total), and since all 54 count as hours worked, the weekly rule tops up any straight-time hours beyond 40 that weren't daily OT. This stacking is why California payroll needs software or this calculator — flat 40-hour logic underpays.

Where the rules come from

Labor Code §510 (daily/weekly overtime and the 7th-day rule), §226.7 (meal/rest premiums), and the DIR wage orders (exemptions, alternative workweeks). Minimum salary thresholds for exemption adjust with the state minimum wage — check the DIR for current figures.

Frequently asked questions

What are California's overtime rules?
Labor Code §510: over 8 hours in a day → 1.5×; over 12 hours in a day → 2×; the first 8 hours on the 7th consecutive workday → 1.5×, beyond 8 → 2×; and over 40 hours in a workweek → 1.5× on top. Daily overtime hours also count as hours worked toward the weekly 40.
How is a 10-hour day paid in California?
8 hours at straight time + 2 hours at 1.5×. At $20/hour: $160 + $60 = $220. A 13-hour day: 8 × $20 + 4 × $30 + 1 × $40 = $320.
What is the meal break premium?
If a shift over 5 hours lacks a 30-minute off-duty meal break, the employer owes one extra hour of pay at the regular rate for that day (Labor Code §226.7). A second missed premium (rest break) can add one more hour, capped at 2 hours/day. The calculator flags days that look short a meal break.
What is a split shift?
A workday broken by an unpaid gap (other than a meal break). California requires a split-shift premium of one hour at minimum wage when the schedule's total pay falls short. Usually relevant to restaurant and retail schedules.
Do all workers get these rules?
No — exempt employees (executive, administrative, professional duties + a salary threshold), and many workers under valid Alternative Workweek schedules, are treated differently. Independent contractors never get OT. Check the DIR wage orders for your occupation.

Related tools

Time card calculatorFull week, CA modeOvertime calculatorFederal rulesRestaurant time cardSplit shifts & tips