How hourly pay is taxed in California
Hourly and salaried workers face the same tax rules in California — there is no special tax bracket for hourly income. What changes is how the year unfolds. An hourly worker who fluctuates between 28 and 45 hours a week will see take-home swing meaningfully from paycheck to paycheck even though the overall annual rate is consistent.
The calculator above simplifies this by assuming a steady weekly schedule. For a more realistic picture, run the calculator twice — once at your low-hour weeks and once at your high-hour weeks — and average the results.
Overtime in California
California has some of the strongest overtime rules in the country:
- Time-and-a-half after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.
- Time-and-a-half for the first 8 hours on a 7th consecutive workday.
- Double time after 12 hours in a day, or after 8 hours on a 7th consecutive workday.
This calculator does not auto-apply overtime — but you can model it manually by computing your blended hourly rate. Example: 40 regular hours at $30 plus 8 overtime hours at $45 equals $1,560 / 48 hours = $32.50 effective hourly rate.
California minimum wage in 2026
California\'s state minimum wage is $16.50/hr in 2025 and is projected to rise with the state CPI for 2026. Many California cities and counties (San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Berkeley, Emeryville, Mountain View, and others) set local minimum wages higher than the state floor. Fast-food workers covered by AB 1228 earn at least $20/hr, and certain healthcare workers have their own staged minimums.
Whatever your hourly rate, the tax math is the same — but where you live in California significantly changes how far each post-tax dollar goes. See the city pages for context on rent and cost of living.
Common hourly conversions, after California taxes (single filer)
| Hourly | Annual gross | Approx. take-home |
|---|---|---|
| $18 / hr | $37,440 | ~$31,200 |
| $22 / hr | $45,760 | ~$37,300 |
| $28 / hr | $58,240 | ~$46,400 |
| $35 / hr | $72,800 | ~$56,500 |
| $45 / hr | $93,600 | ~$70,500 |
| $60 / hr | $124,800 | ~$90,000 |
| $80 / hr | $166,400 | ~$117,500 |
These figures assume 40 hours / week, 52 weeks / year, no pre-tax deductions, and single filing status. Use the calculator above to fine-tune for your situation.