Office Clerks, General
Median $23.30 an hour in California · 311,490 jobs
California · 2026 take-home pay
$24 an hour after taxes in California
At $24 an hour in California you keep about $19.52 of every hour — $781 a week, $3,384 a month or $40,607 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, California income tax and state payroll programs. California has a graduated income tax plus SDI, and its minimum wage is $16.90 an hour.
Where $24 an hour goes
| A year | A week | An hour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $49,920 | $960 | $24.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,810 | −$73 | −$1.83 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$3,095 | −$60 | −$1.49 |
| Medicare (1.45%+) | −$724 | −$14 | −$0.35 |
| California income tax | −$1,035 | −$20 | −$0.50 |
| SDI (State Disability Insurance, includes Paid Family Leave) | −$649 | −$12 | −$0.31 |
| Take-home pay | $40,607 | $781 | $19.52 |
Effective tax rate 18.7% · federal bracket 12% · California bracket 6%.
SDI (State Disability Insurance, includes Paid Family Leave): 1.3% of wages.
Take-home per paycheck
| Paid | Gross | Take-home |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly (52 paychecks) | $960.00 | $780.90 |
| Every two weeks (26) | $1,920.00 | $1,561.81 |
| Twice a month (24) | $2,080.00 | $1,691.96 |
| Monthly (12) | $4,160.00 | $3,383.92 |
$24 an hour at different hours
Take-home in California for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $24 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.
| Schedule | Gross a week | Take-home a week | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours a week* | $480 | $418 | $21,719 |
| 30 hours a week | $720 | $602 | $31,296 |
| 40 hours a week | $960 | $781 | $40,607 |
| 40 hours + 5 overtime | $1,140 | $912 | $47,445 |
| 40 hours + 10 overtime | $1,320 | $1,038 | $53,960 |
*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.
Is $24 an hour good pay in California?
- Minimum wage: $24 an hour is 1.4 times California's minimum wage of $16.90 an hour. Many cities set higher local minimums.
- Among California workers: It's about the 38th percentile of hourly pay in California (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 38 in 100 workers earn less. The median is $28.00 an hour.
- Local prices: California's price level is 110.7% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $40,607 a year buys about what $36,675 would at national-average prices.
- Rent: the 30% rule points to about $1,248 a month. Check it with your debts.
- A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,692 a month for needs, $1,015 for wants and $677 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.
Jobs in California that pay about $24 an hour
Occupations whose median wage in California is within 4% of $24 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Customer Service Representatives
Median $23.83 an hour in California · 176,850 jobs
Medical Assistants
Median $23.88 an hour in California · 117,060 jobs
Self-Enrichment Teachers
Median $23.83 an hour in California · 60,260 jobs
Social and Human Service Assistants
Median $24.56 an hour in California · 58,730 jobs
Dental Assistants
Median $24.09 an hour in California · 56,220 jobs
How California compares on $24 an hour
California ranks 32nd of 51 for take-home pay on $24 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.
How the federal tax on $49,920 ($24 an hour) is worked out
Taxable income is $49,920 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $33,820. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:
| Rate | Income in this bracket | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% | $21,420 | $2,570 |
| Total | $33,820 | $3,810 |
How the California income tax on $49,920 ($24 an hour) is worked out
Taxable income is $49,920 of California wages minus $5,706 standard deduction = $44,214.
| Rate | Income in this bracket | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 1% | $11,079 | $111 |
| 2% | $15,185 | $304 |
| 4% | $15,188 | $608 |
| 6% | $2,762 | $166 |
| Personal credits | — | −$153 |
| Total | $44,214 | $1,035 |
Common questions
How much is $24 an hour after taxes in California?
About $19.52 for every hour you work, or $40,607 a year at 40 hours a week ($49,920 gross). Taxes take about 18.7% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.
How much is $24 an hour a week after taxes in California?
About $781 a week at 40 hours, from $960 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,562.
How much is $24 an hour a month after taxes in California?
About $3,384 a month at 40 hours a week, from $4,160 gross.
Is $24 an hour good pay in California?
$24 an hour is 1.4 times California's minimum wage of $16.90 an hour. It's about the 38th percentile of hourly pay in California (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 38 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in California is $28.00. After taxes and local prices, $40,607 a year buys about what $36,675 would at national-average prices.
Is California a high-tax state for $24 an hour?
It ranks 32nd of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $24 an hour. The most you'd keep is $42,291 a year, in 8 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $38,743 in Oregon.
More hourly rates
Other hourly rates in California
- $20 an hour in California
- $21 an hour in California
- $22 an hour in California
- $23 an hour in California
- $25 an hour in California
- $26 an hour in California
- $27 an hour in California
- $28 an hour in California
$24 an hour in every state · $45,000 a year in California · $50,000 a year in California · California paycheck calculator · All pay conversions
Sources and method
Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, California's income tax rules and California's employee payroll programs (methodology). Local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages: U.S. Department of Labor. Wage distribution and jobs: BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities.
- Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.