If someone who is nonexempt works 40 hours in a week, they are entitled to 1.5 times their regular rate of pay for every hour worked beyond 40. A fulltime work week in California is 40 hours.Anything over 40 hours should be paid out at 1.5x regular wages. What Is California Law for Overtime Pay? You must pay employees overtime at least 1.5x the regular rate of pay for all hours over 40 in a given workweek. Most employees cannot work more than 40 hours per week or 8 hours per day. If they do, their employer must pay them 1.5 times their normal pay. Overtime pay is 1.5 times an employee's regular rate of pay. Not all employees are eligible for overtime, but most employees are eligible for overtime. California overtime (OT) laws require non-exempt employees to earn one-and-a-half times their regular rate of pay when they work extra hours.