Calculate overtime pay, waiting time penalties, meal/rest break violations, and other wage claims under California labor law.
Enter your regular hourly rate or calculate from salary
California requires 1.5x pay over 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week, 2x over 12 hrs/day
30-min meal break required for shifts over 5 hours. Penalty: 1 hour of pay per day.
10-min paid rest per 4 hours worked. Penalty: 1 hour of pay per day.
If fired/quit and final pay was late, penalty is up to 30 days of wages.
Regular hours worked but not paid, bounced paychecks, etc.
Plus potential interest and attorney fees
These calculations are based on California Labor Code sections including:
LC 510 Overtime rates •
LC 226.7 Meal/rest penalties •
LC 203 Waiting time penalties •
LC 1194 Wage recovery
This calculator provides estimates only. Actual claims may include additional penalties, interest (10% per year), and attorney fees if you prevail. Statute of limitations: 3 years for most wage claims, 4 years under UCL. Some managers and professionals are exempt from overtime rules. Consult an attorney for your specific situation.
Ready to recover your wages?
California has some of the strongest overtime protections in the nation:
| Requirement | When Required | Penalty if Violated |
|---|---|---|
| First meal break (30 min) | Shifts over 5 hours | 1 hour of pay |
| Second meal break (30 min) | Shifts over 10 hours | 1 additional hour |
| First rest break (10 min) | Shifts of 3.5-6 hours | 1 hour of pay |
| Second rest break (10 min) | Shifts over 6 hours | 1 additional hour |
If your employer doesn't pay all wages due upon termination:
You have several options to recover unpaid wages:
Generate a professional demand letter for your wage claim:
Explore our other free calculators to help with your legal claims: