What is the minimum wage in San Diego?

San Diego follows California's statewide minimum wage, which is $17.25 per hour for the 2026 reference used here. Some specific employers or contracts may set a higher local floor, but $17.25 is the baseline used in this tool.

How does California daily overtime work?

California pays overtime per day, not just per week. Hours over 8 in a single workday are paid at 1.5x, and hours over 12 in a day are paid at 2x (double time). Weekly hours over 40 are also paid at 1.5x where not already counted.

Double time is 2x your regular rate. In California it applies to hours beyond 12 in a single workday, and to hours beyond 8 on the seventh consecutive day of work in a week. This tool applies the over-12-per-day rule.

Are tipped workers paid less?

No. California does not allow a tip credit, so tipped workers must receive the full minimum wage of $17.25 per hour before tips. Tips are paid on top of, not counted against, the minimum wage.

Does this calculate taxes?

No, it shows gross pay before any deductions. Federal income tax, California state tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any benefits are withheld separately and reduce your take-home pay.

San Diego Minimum Wage & Overtime Calculator

San Diego uses California’s $17.25 hourly minimum wage and California’s distinctive overtime rules, which trigger on a daily basis, not only weekly. This calculator splits each day’s hours into regular, time-and-a-half, and double-time buckets and totals your gross weekly pay.

How it works

California overtime is computed per workday and then per week:

per day:
  hours 0–8    → regular   (1.0x)
  hours 8–12   → overtime  (1.5x)
  hours 12+    → double    (2.0x)

per week:
  any regular hours beyond 40 total → overtime (1.5x)

The tool first applies the daily rules to each day, then promotes excess weekly regular hours over 40 into the 1.5x bucket so weekly overtime is not double counted. Pay is then:

gross = regular_hours * rate
      + ot_hours * rate * 1.5
      + dt_hours * rate * 2.0

Tips and notes

California does not permit a tip credit, so tipped workers must earn the full $17.25 minimum before tips. The seventh-consecutive-day premium is not modelled here; if you work seven days straight, the first eight hours of day seven are also overtime. Results are gross pay before tax and deductions.