California Piece Rate Calculator
Enter your piece rate worker's weekly earnings, hours, and rest period details to calculate AB 1513 rest period pay, recovery period pay, and minimum wage compliance.
How This Calculator Works
Enter the worker's total piece rate earnings, total hours worked, days worked, number of shifts over 10 hours, and outdoor heat days. The calculator applies California's AB 1513 rules automatically.
You'll see the worker's effective hourly rate, California minimum wage compliance status, and a full breakdown of additional pay owed — rest period pay, recovery period pay, and minimum wage make-up pay.
California's AB 1513 requires separate pay for rest and recovery periods on top of piece rate earnings. This calculator tells you exactly what you owe so you stay compliant and avoid costly penalties.
Enter Weekly Details
Worker's total piece rate pay for the week
All hours in the workweek (not counting rest periods)
How many days exceeded 10 hours (extra rest period)
Days with outdoor work in high heat (recovery periods apply)
Your results will appear here
Enter weekly details to check AB 1513 compliance and calculate additional pay owed.
California's Piece Rate Laws Are Strict
California has some of the strictest piece rate laws in the country. If you have crews working in California, you need to get this right.
AB 1513 Compliance
California AB 1513 requires separate compensation for rest and recovery periods for piece rate workers. This calculator shows exactly what you owe.
Avoid Class Action Risk
AB 1513 violations have led to some of the largest class action lawsuits in California construction. Getting the math right isn't optional.
Rest + Recovery Pay
Piece rate workers in California must be paid separately for 10-minute rest breaks and 5-minute heat recovery periods at their effective piece rate.
What AB 1513 Requires
Separate Rest Period Pay
Piece rate workers must be paid separately for each 10-minute rest period. The rate is calculated by dividing total piece rate earnings by total hours worked to get the effective hourly rate, then paying 10 minutes at that rate per rest break. Workers get one rest period per 4 hours of work.
Recovery Period Pay
For outdoor workers in high heat, California requires paid “recovery periods” (cool-down breaks). These must also be separately compensated for piece rate workers at the effective hourly rate.
Itemized Wage Statements
California requires that piece rate worker pay stubs separately list: total hours worked, total piece rate earnings, rest period pay, recovery period pay, and any other compensation. Failure to itemize correctly is itself a violation.
This is not optional
AB 1513 violations carry penalties of up to $250 per employee per pay period, plus exposure to class action lawsuits for unpaid rest period wages. Several California construction companies have faced multi-million dollar settlements over AB 1513 violations.
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