Paid Leave · California
California Paid Medical Leave in 2026
Your own serious health condition, including pregnancy and childbirth recovery. Here is how many weeks California pays, what each week pays at your income, and the formula the state uses — worked through at $60,000 a year, with a table for other pay levels.
Informational only — not financial or legal advice. Does not include income tax on benefits.
In California you can take up to 52 weeks of medical leave and be paid for 52 of them: about $1,038 a week, or 90% of your usual pay. The first week is unpaid.
- Highest quarter ≈ $15,000.00 (13 × weekly wage)
- Quarter is within 70% of the state average → 90% ÷ 13$1,038.46
- Weekly benefit$1,038.46
- Program: State Disability Insurance (SDI), run by California EDD.
- Waiting period: the first 7 days are unpaid; the 52 paid weeks start after them.
- Who qualifies: At least $300 in base-period wages with SDI withheld.
- For a normal pregnancy, doctors typically certify disability for 4 weeks before the due date and 6 weeks after a vaginal birth or 8 after a cesarean; the 52-week figure is the program's outer limit, not the usual claim.
- The 90% band covers annual pay of roughly $2,890 to $65,120; between $65,120 and $83,725 the benefit sits at the $1,127.07 floor; above that it is 70% of your highest quarter ÷ 13, up to $1,765.
Law: Cal. Unemp. Ins. Code § 2655 · Figures: EDD — Calculating DI benefit payment amounts
Job protection is separate. Federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave if your employer has 50+ employees within 75 miles and you have worked there 12 months and 1,250 hours. State paid leave usually runs at the same time, not after it.
Assumes steady pay over the past year. Benefits are figured from your quarterly wage records, so uneven pay changes the answer. Informational only, not financial or legal advice.
California medical leave by yearly pay
| Yearly pay | Weekly wage | Weekly benefit | Share of pay | Total for 52 paid weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $576.92 | $519.23 | 90% | $27,000 |
| $45,000 | $865.38 | $778.85 | 90% | $40,500 |
| $60,000 | $1,153.85 | $1,038.46 | 90% | $54,000 |
| $80,000 | $1,538.46 | $1,127.07 | 73% | $58,608 |
| $100,000 | $1,923.08 | $1,346.15 | 70% | $70,000 |
| $150,000 | $2,884.62 | $1,765.00 (cap) | 61% | $91,780 |
Assumes the same pay in every quarter of the base period. The share of pay falls as income rises because the formula replaces less of each extra dollar, then stops at the cap.
Asking your employer
California pays the benefit, but your employer still needs notice. Draft a leave request letter that cites Cal. Unemp. Ins. Code § 2655 and federal FMLA.
Other kinds of leave in California
Last reviewed: September 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much does California medical leave pay per week in 2026?
Up to $1,765.00 a week. Below the cap, the benefit is a share of your average weekly wage: at $60,000 a year it is about $1,038 a week. The table above shows other pay levels.
How many weeks of medical leave do you get in California?
Up to 52 weeks under State Disability Insurance (SDI), with the first 7 days unpaid. For a normal pregnancy, doctors typically certify disability for 4 weeks before the due date and 6 weeks after a vaginal birth or 8 after a cesarean; the 52-week figure is the program's outer limit, not the usual claim.
Who qualifies for California medical leave?
At least $300 in base-period wages with SDI withheld. Qualifying for pay is separate from job protection: federal FMLA protects your job only if your employer has 50+ employees within 75 miles and you have worked there 12 months and 1,250 hours.
What law sets California's medical leave benefit?
Cal. Unemp. Ins. Code § 2655, administered by California EDD. StubTrue reviews the figures each year when the state updates its average weekly wage and cap; last reviewed September 2026.
Related tools
See how many weeks of leave your state gives, how many are paid, and what each week pays — for a new baby, your own health, or caring for family. Formula and law shown.
/paid-leave-calculatorOpen →Leave Request Letter GeneratorDraft a request for time off to your employer that cites federal FMLA and your state's paid leave program. Copy it and send.
/leave-request-letterOpen →State Disability & Paid Leave Deduction CalculatorSee exactly how much your state's SDI or PFML payroll deduction takes from your paycheck — covers CA, NJ, NY, RI, HI, WA, MA, CT, and OR.
/state-disability-calculatorOpen →