Do I get double-time pay for working more than 12 hours in California?

What the Law Says

California labor law requires employers to pay double-time wages under two specific daily conditions — regardless of total weekly hours. These rules apply to most non-exempt employees and are enforced by the California Labor Code and Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) Wage Orders.

Double-time pay is required for all hours worked beyond 12 hours in a single workday. This means if you work 13 hours in one day, you must receive your regular hourly rate for the first 8 hours, time-and-a-half for hours 9–12, and double your regular rate for hour 13 and beyond.

Double-time also applies on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek: you must be paid double-time for all hours worked beyond 8 hours on that seventh day.

These requirements come from California’s wage orders — especially Wage Order No. 4 (Professional, Technical, Clerical, Mechanical, and Similar Occupations) and Wage Order No. 5 (Public Housekeeping Industry) — which are incorporated into state law.

Statutory Text

For all hours worked in excess of 12 hours in any workday, the employer shall pay no less than twice the employee’s regular rate of pay.

— Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, § 11040(1)(A) — Wage Order No. 4, subd. 3(A)

Statutory Text

For all hours worked in excess of eight hours on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek, the employer shall pay no less than twice the employee’s regular rate of pay.

— Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, § 11040(1)(B) — Wage Order No. 4, subd. 3(B)

What to Do

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