Paid Leave · California
California Paid Parental Leave in 2026
Bonding with a new child. 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 8 weeks of parental leave and be paid for 8 of them: about $1,038 a week, or 90% of your usual pay.
- 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: Paid Family Leave (PFL), run by California EDD.
- Waiting period: none for this type of leave.
- Who qualifies: At least $300 in base-period wages with SDI withheld. Bonding claims must start within 12 months of the birth or placement.
- PFL pays wages only. Job protection comes from federal FMLA or California's CFRA (employers with 5+ employees), not from PFL itself.
Law: Cal. Unemp. Ins. Code §§ 2655, 3301 · Figures: EDD — Paid Family Leave
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 parental leave by yearly pay
| Yearly pay | Weekly wage | Weekly benefit | Share of pay | Total for 8 paid weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $576.92 | $519.23 | 90% | $4,154 |
| $45,000 | $865.38 | $778.85 | 90% | $6,231 |
| $60,000 | $1,153.85 | $1,038.46 | 90% | $8,308 |
| $80,000 | $1,538.46 | $1,127.07 | 73% | $9,017 |
| $100,000 | $1,923.08 | $1,346.15 | 70% | $10,769 |
| $150,000 | $2,884.62 | $1,765.00 (cap) | 61% | $14,120 |
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, 3301 and federal FMLA.
Other kinds of leave in California
Last reviewed: September 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much does California parental 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 parental leave do you get in California?
Up to 8 weeks under Paid Family Leave (PFL). PFL pays wages only. Job protection comes from federal FMLA or California's CFRA (employers with 5+ employees), not from PFL itself.
Who qualifies for California parental leave?
At least $300 in base-period wages with SDI withheld. Bonding claims must start within 12 months of the birth or placement. 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 parental leave benefit?
Cal. Unemp. Ins. Code §§ 2655, 3301, 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 →