California Unemployment Calculator
Enter your wages for the four quarters of your base period to estimate your California weekly unemployment benefit, the most you could collect, and what a week of part-time work does to it. The figures follow EDD's published formula, checked November 6, 2026.
California unemployment at a glance
- Maximum a week
- $450
- Minimum a week
- $40
- Weeks
- Up to 26
- Waiting week
- Yes, unpaid
Example: $6,500 in each base-period quarter ($26,000 a year) gives an estimated $250 a week and up to $6,500.00 for the benefit year. Sources: California Employment Development Department and the other official sources listed below, checked November 6, 2026.
Enter gross wages for each of the four quarters in your base period, usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file.
Gross pay for a week you work part time while claiming.
- Weekly benefit
- $270
- Most for the benefit year
- $7,020.00
- Base-period wages
- $26,000.00
- Weekly range in CA
- $40–$450
- Highest quarter $7,000 ÷ 26 = $2.69, which EDD's table rounds up to $270.
The lesser of 26 × $270 and half your base-period wages ($13,000).
This is an estimate for information only, not legal or benefits advice. The California Employment Development Department decides whether you are eligible and how much you receive, based on the wages your employers reported and the reason you left work.
How California works out your weekly benefit
Your weekly benefit comes from the quarter of your base period with the highest wages. EDD's benefit table pays about 1/26 of that quarter's wages, from $40 up to $450 a week.
You need at least $1,300 in your highest base-period quarter, or at least $900 in that quarter with total base-period wages of at least 1.25 times it.
California's $40 minimum and $450 maximum are written into state law (Unemployment Insurance Code section 1280) and have applied to claims since January 2005. They change only if the legislature amends the law; no change for 2027 had been enacted when we checked.
California weekly unemployment by quarterly pay
| Pay per quarter | Per year | Weekly benefit | Most for the year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $8,000 | $77 | $2,002.00 |
| $3,000 | $12,000 | $116 | $3,016.00 |
| $4,000 | $16,000 | $154 | $4,004.00 |
| $5,000 | $20,000 | $193 | $5,018.00 |
| $6,500 | $26,000 | $250 | $6,500.00 |
| $8,000 | $32,000 | $308 | $8,008.00 |
| $10,000 | $40,000 | $385 | $10,010.00 |
| $12,500 | $50,000 | $450 (max) | $11,700.00 |
| $15,000 | $60,000 | $450 (max) | $11,700.00 |
Same pay in all four quarters, claim filed now. With equal quarters you reach the $450 maximum at about $11,675 a quarter. This is an estimate for information only; the EDD decides your actual amount.
Weeks, waiting week and part-time work
- How long benefits last
- Up to 26 weeks. The most you can collect is 26 times your weekly benefit or half of your total base-period wages, whichever is less.
- Waiting week
- Every claim has a one-week unpaid waiting period.
- Part-time earnings
- If you work part time, the first $25 or 25% of your gross earnings for the week (whichever is greater) is not counted, and the rest is subtracted from your weekly benefit.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- EDD — Unemployment Insurance Benefit Table (DE 1101BT5)Weekly benefit by high-quarter wages for claims beginning January 2, 2005 or later: $900.00–$948.99 pays $40; $11,674.01 and over pays $450.
- EDD — Unemployment Insurance CalculatorThe weekly amount can range from $40 to $450.
- EDD — For Your Benefit (DE 2320, Rev. 67, 1-24)One-week unpaid waiting period; maximum award is 26 times the weekly benefit or half of base-period wages, whichever is less; the first $25 or 25% of weekly earnings, whichever is greater, is not deducted.
- EDD — How Unemployment Insurance Benefits Are Computed (DE 8714AB)Eligibility: $1,300 in the highest quarter, or $900 in the highest quarter and total base-period wages of 1.25 times the high quarter.
Checked November 6, 2026.
This is an estimate for information only, not legal or benefits advice. The California Employment Development Department decides whether you qualify and the amount you receive.