California has one of the highest state minimum wages in the United States. Whether you are starting a new job, comparing offers, or checking that your employer is complying with the law, this calculator gives you an instant, clear picture of your gross weekly, monthly and annual earnings at any hourly rate — plus the exact overtime premium when you work more than 40 hours a week.
How it works
Enter your hourly wage (pre-filled at California’s current state minimum of $16.50 per hour) and the number of hours you work each week. The calculator then:
- Splits your hours into regular time (up to 40 hours) and overtime (any hours above 40).
- Multiplies regular hours by your hourly rate and overtime hours by 1.5 times your hourly rate — the California and federal FLSA overtime floor.
- Aggregates weekly gross pay into monthly (weekly × 52 ÷ 12) and annual (weekly × 52) figures.
- Runs the same calculation at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and shows you the difference so you can immediately see how much more California law puts in your pocket.
Everything runs in your browser. No numbers are sent to a server.
California minimum wage — the current figures
California’s general state minimum wage is $16.50 per hour, effective 1 January 2025. Key sector-specific rates are:
| Sector | Rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| General (all industries) | $16.50 / hr | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Fast-food (AB 1228, chains 60+ locations) | $20.00 / hr | Apr 1, 2024 |
| Healthcare workers (SB 525, large facilities) | Up to $23–$25 / hr (phased) | Jun 2024 onward |
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25 / hr | Jul 24, 2009 |
Many cities and counties set their own local minimums above the state floor. Los Angeles City, San Francisco and San Jose are among the highest. Always confirm the rate that applies to your specific location and industry.
Worked example — 40 regular hours at $16.50 / hr
A full-time worker at California’s state minimum with a standard 40-hour week:
- Regular hours: 40 × $16.50 = $660.00 / week
- Overtime hours: 0
- Weekly gross: $660.00
- Monthly gross: $660.00 × 4.333 = $2,860.00
- Annual gross: $660.00 × 52 = $34,320.00
At the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour, the same 40-hour week yields only $15,080 per year. California’s floor means this worker earns $19,240 more per year than they would if only covered by federal law.
Worked example — 45 hours with overtime
Now suppose the same worker puts in 45 hours in a busy week:
- Regular pay: 40 × $16.50 = $660.00
- Overtime pay: 5 × ($16.50 × 1.5) = 5 × $24.75 = $123.75
- Weekly gross: $783.75
- Monthly gross (if every week): $783.75 × 4.333 = $3,396.25
- Annual gross (if every week): $783.75 × 52 = $40,755.00
The overtime premium adds $123.75 that week — real money that compounds fast for workers in retail, food service, or logistics where extra shifts are common.
California overtime rules — what this calculator covers
California’s overtime law is among the most protective in the country. There are two separate triggers:
- Weekly overtime: hours beyond 40 in a workweek → 1.5× the regular rate.
- Daily overtime (not modelled here): hours beyond 8 in a single day → 1.5×; hours beyond 12 in a single day → 2×.
Because this calculator asks for total weekly hours — not a day-by-day schedule — it applies only the weekly threshold. If your shifts regularly run past 8 hours, your actual overtime entitlement may be higher than the figure shown. Use the calculator as a planning estimate, not a payroll guarantee.
Every figure displayed is gross pay — before federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, California income tax, and California State Disability Insurance (SDI). Your net take-home pay will be lower.