California Severance Pay Calculator
Get a realistic estimate of what your severance could be worth under California law, then find out how to protect it. Free, confidential, and built for employees.
How it works
Estimate your severance in three steps
Enter the basics
Share your tenure, salary, and how the separation happened. The range applies California-specific rules, not a generic national formula.
See your estimated range
You get a clear low-to-high range based on the schedules employers commonly use, so you know whether an offer is in the right ballpark.
Talk it through
A senior attorney can flag what the calculator cannot see, including claims that may be worth far more than severance alone.
Run the numbers
Answer a few questions and get your estimate in about two minutes. Your entries stay on your device; nothing is sent to us unless you choose to reach out.
This calculator provides a general estimate for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is different, so speak with an attorney about your specific circumstances before acting.
What a fair severance offer should account for
A severance offer is rarely just about weeks of pay. These are the factors an employer weighs, and the ones you should weigh too.
Tenure and pay
Severance is often expressed as weeks or months of pay. Longer tenure and higher compensation generally mean a larger starting point, though most private-sector employees are not covered by a fixed legal formula.
Accrued vacation and final wages
In California, earned but unused vacation is wages and must be paid at separation. Final wages are due quickly, and waiting-time penalties can apply when an employer is late.
The release of claims
Most severance agreements ask you to waive legal claims. That release is often the most valuable thing you give up, and what you are waiving may be worth considerably more than the severance on the table.
How the separation happened
A layoff, a performance exit, and a termination after you raised a concern are very different situations. The circumstances can add claims that dwarf a standard severance formula.
Common questions
Severance questions, answered
How is severance pay calculated in California?
There is no single state formula for severance. Many employers use a schedule based on tenure, commonly one to two weeks of pay per year of service, but the final number is negotiable and shaped by the facts of the separation. The calculator uses the formulas employers most often rely on to give you a realistic range.
Am I entitled to severance pay in California?
Generally, severance is not required by law unless your employment contract, a company policy, or a collective bargaining agreement provides for it. That is why the circumstances of your exit matter: if you were terminated for an unlawful reason, you may have claims worth far more than severance.
Does this calculator replace legal advice?
No. It is a free informational tool that gives you a general estimate. It cannot account for your contract, your evidence, or the legal claims you may have. Use it as a starting point, then talk to an attorney before you sign anything.
Can I negotiate a severance offer?
Often, yes. Employers frequently open with a number they expect to move from, and severance offers are commonly negotiable. The strongest negotiations happen before you sign a release, while you still have leverage.
What should I do before signing a severance agreement?
Do not sign on the spot. Read the release carefully, check every deadline, and have the agreement reviewed. Once you sign, you usually give up the right to bring claims related to your employment, so the decision deserves a second look.
Not sure if your offer is fair?
Run the numbers, then let a senior attorney review your agreement for free. One conversation, a clear answer, and no obligation.