California Caregivers: You Could Be Owed Thousands in Unpaid Wages | $16.50 Minimum Wage & Overtime
Caregivers are the backbone of California’s in-home care industry. Every day, you support seniors, individuals with disabilities, and families who depend on your compassion and hard work. But while you’re caring for others, who is making sure you get paid fairly?
Many California caregivers are shocked to learn they have not been paid legally — and may be owed thousands of dollars in unpaid wages, even if they thought their pay was “normal” or “standard.”
If you’re a caregiver working long or overnight shifts, this article could change everything for you.
California’s Minimum Wage in 2025: $16.50 Per Hour
As of 2025, the statewide minimum wage in California is:
➡️ $16.50 per hour — for every hour worked.
This applies whether you are:
An in-home caregiver
A live-in caregiver
A facility caregiver
Paid by the hour, by the day, or with a flat rate
If your employer pays you a daily rate, the law still requires that your total pay averages out to at least $16.50 for every hour worked.
Most daily-rate pay structures fail this test — meaning the caregiver is owed unpaid wages.
Overtime Rules Every Caregiver Should Know
Under the California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, caregivers must receive:
🕘 Overtime after 9 hours in a single day
🗓 Overtime after 45 hours in a week
Even if you're paid a flat daily or weekly rate, overtime must still be paid separately.
This is where most wage violations occur.
Examples:
Work a 24-hour shift? You should receive 9 hours of regular pay + 15 hours of overtime — not a flat rate.
Work six 10-hour days? You’re owed overtime every day, plus weekly overtime.
Paid $200/day? That rarely meets minimum wage once your hours are divided.
If your pay doesn’t include overtime, you may have a valuable claim.
You May Be Owed Thousands — or More
Most caregivers who contact us discover they’ve been underpaid for months or even years without knowing it.
They often say:
“I thought daily pay was normal.”
“I didn’t know I had overtime rights.”
“I was afraid to speak up because I need this job.”
You’re not alone — and the law is on your side.
Caregiver wage cases often involve:
Unpaid overtime
Minimum wage violations
Missed meal and rest breaks
Misclassification as an “independent contractor”
Off-the-clock work
Sleep time deductions that weren’t legal
These can add up quickly — often resulting in thousands of dollars owed to the caregiver.
What If You Are Undocumented?
You still have full rights under California law.
Your immigration status cannot be used against you in court, and employers are prohibited from retaliating or asking about your status.
In fact, many of the caregivers we’ve helped were undocumented — and we protected their rights every step of the way.
Kevin & Lauren Have Recovered More Than $70 Million for Caregivers
At CaregiverOvertime.com, attorneys Kevin and Lauren have represented more than 500 caregivers across California.
They have recovered over:
💰 $70,000,000+ in unpaid wages
Their mission is simple:
Protect caregivers. Enforce the law. Make sure you get paid fairly.
How to Find Out If You Have a Claim (Free & Confidential)
You’ve cared for countless families. Now it’s time someone looked out for you.
If you work long hours, overnight shifts, or receive a flat daily rate, you may be owed unpaid wages.
Getting answers is simple: