2026 EDD Formula · California PFL

California PFL Benefit by Salary

Your weekly Paid Family Leave amount at every income level, with the two thresholds that surprise people: the benefit cliff near $65,000 and the $1,765 weekly cap.

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California pays Paid Family Leave at 90% of your average weekly wage if that wage is $1,252.30 or less, and 70% above that, up to a 2026 maximum of $1,765/week for 8 weeks. Because the rate steps down at the threshold, the relationship between salary and benefit isn't a straight line. Find your salary below for the full breakdown.

PFL weekly benefit by salary (2026)

Assumes even pay across quarters · click a salary for tax, take-home, and details
Annual salaryAvg weekly wageRateWeekly PFL benefit
$50,000$96290%$865/wk
$60,000$1,15490%$1,038/wk
$70,000$1,34670%$942/wk
$80,000$1,53870%$1,077/wk
$90,000$1,73170%$1,212/wk
$100,000$1,92370%$1,346/wk
$110,000$2,11570%$1,481/wk
$120,000$2,30870%$1,615/wk
$130,000$2,50070%$1,750/wk
$140,000$2,692cap$1,765 (cap)
$150,000$2,885cap$1,765 (cap)
$200,000$3,846cap$1,765 (cap)

The benefit cliff: why $64,000 can beat $70,000

Notice the table jump from $60,000 to $70,000. At $60,000 your average weekly wage stays under the $1,252.30 line, so you get the 90% rate, about $1,038/week. At $70,000 you cross into the 70% tier, and your benefit drops to about $942/week even though you earn more. Someone earning around $64,000 can collect a higher weekly PFL benefit than someone at $70,000. It takes roughly $83,000 of salary to "earn back" past the cliff. If your income sits near $65,000, see the $60k and $70k pages for exactly where you land.

The cap: above ~$131,000 your benefit stops growing

The 2026 weekly maximum is $1,765. You reach it once your average weekly wage passes about $2,521, roughly a $131,000 salary spread evenly, or less if a bonus concentrates pay into one quarter. From there, more income doesn't raise your PFL at all. It only lowers your effective replacement rate. At $140k the cap replaces about 66% of your wage, at $150k about 61%, and at $200k under half. High earners should plan with employer top-up or savings to bridge the gap.

Calculate by profession instead

Your job can move you off these even-salary numbers. Overtime, bonuses, tips, and shift differentials all change which quarter EDD uses. The PFL calculator by profession shows how nurses, firefighters, drivers, engineers and others land differently than a flat salary suggests.

Open the full calculator →

Frequently asked questions

How is the California PFL weekly amount calculated from salary? +
EDD takes your highest-earning quarter in the base period and divides it by 13 to get your average weekly wage (AWW). It then pays 90% of that AWW if it's $1,252.30 or less, or 70% if it's higher, up to the 2026 maximum of $1,765/week. The table above assumes pay is spread evenly across quarters.
Why does a lower salary sometimes get a higher weekly benefit? +
Because the replacement rate steps down from 90% to 70% once your average weekly wage passes $1,252.30 (around $65,000/year). A worker just under that line keeps the 90% rate and can receive more per week than someone just over it on the 70% rate. This is the benefit cliff.
What salary hits the $1,765 weekly cap? +
An average weekly wage of about $2,521 reaches the cap — roughly $131,000 a year spread evenly, or less if a bonus or overtime concentrates earnings in one quarter. Above that, additional salary doesn't increase your PFL benefit.
Is the PFL benefit taxed? +
California PFL is exempt from California state income tax but is subject to federal income tax. EDD doesn't withhold federal tax by default — you can opt in with Form W-4V or set the money aside yourself. Each salary page shows an estimated federal-tax and take-home breakdown.