California · Free calculator

California Unpaid Wages Calculator

Put your hours and pay side by side. See the regular wages and overtime for one workweek, subtract what you were paid, and understand what to check next.

No sign-upPrivate entriesSource comparison: 2026-10-12

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Standard California overtime rules for hourly, nonexempt employees. Check the scope

Regular hourly rate ($)

Use your legally applicable regular rate, not take-home pay.

Hours actually worked in one workweek

Day 1 is the first day of your employer’s workweek. Include all hours actually worked; leave days off blank. Exclude paid leave.

Day 1 (hours)

Day 2 (hours)

Day 3 (hours)

Day 4 (hours)

Day 5 (hours)

Day 6 (hours)

Day 7 (hours)

Identical workweeks

Different hours or rates? Calculate each week separately.

Gross pay already received ($)

Only pay for the wages covered by this worksheet, before deductions.

Other wages still unpaid ($)

For example, earned vacation due at separation. Do not repeat hourly wages already counted here.

Add a final-paycheck penalty scenario

Clear numbers. Useful next steps.

See the math behind your result

Enter your numbers and calculate. Your worksheet will show every component and the assumptions that affect it.

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Official California sources below

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What this calculator covers

For hourly, nonexempt employees under California’s standard overtime rules. Exempt roles, alternative workweeks, industry exceptions, multiple pay rates and bonuses need a separate review. Enter a regular rate that includes any required adjustments; this tool does not determine your applicable minimum wage.

Legal information, not legal advice. A worksheet is a starting point for checking your records, not a determination of what you are owed.

How the calculation works

The California unpaid wages calculator applies the standard daily and weekly overtime rules for hourly, nonexempt employees under Labor Code section 510, as explained by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). In each workday the first 8 hours are paid at the regular rate, hours 8 through 12 at 1.5 times the regular rate, and hours beyond 12 at 2 times. On the seventh consecutive day worked in one employer-defined workweek, the first 8 hours are paid at 1.5 times and hours beyond 8 at 2 times. Regular-rate hours above 40 in the workweek are converted to 1.5 times, and premium hours already counted are never counted twice. The worksheet multiplies the result by the number of identical workweeks, adds other unpaid wages, and subtracts gross pay already received. A separate waiting-time penalty scenario multiplies the daily wage by eligible late calendar days, capped at 30 days under Labor Code section 203. Rules were compared with DLSE guidance on 2026-10-12.

What to do next

Gather your timesheets and pay stubs. Use your employer’s fixed seven-day workweek, which may start on any day.
Use gross pay before tax for these same hours. Repeat weeks only when the hours and rate were identical.
Save the worksheet and compare it with your records. The Labor Commissioner’s Office accepts wage claims without requiring a private attorney.

Common questions

How does California overtime work?

Under the standard rules, daily hours above eight and up to twelve receive time-and-a-half; hours above twelve receive double time. Work on the seventh consecutive day of a workweek has separate premiums. Weekly overtime is added only for regular-rate hours above forty, so premium hours are not counted twice.

Is a final-paycheck penalty automatic?

No. A waiting-time penalty depends on a willful failure to pay wages due after employment ends, and a good-faith dispute can prevent it. The scenario uses your daily wage and eligible late calendar days, capped at thirty. Payment or a court action can stop accrual. It is displayed separately from unpaid wages.

When is a final paycheck due?

Ordinarily, discharged employees are paid immediately. For a resignation, at least seventy-two hours’ notice generally makes final wages due on the last day; without that notice, they are generally due within seventy-two hours. Exceptions exist. Check the official payday guidance before counting late days.

Official sources and assistance

Maintained by California Attorney Registry. Source comparison dated 2026-10-12; automated editorial assistance, not an attorney review. Rules can change; confirm the current guidance for your situation.

How does overtime pay work in California?Cal. Lab. Code § 510
When is my final paycheck due after leaving a job in California?Cal. Lab. Code §§ 201–203

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