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Labor/Employment

Feb. 11, 2025

California exempt status explained: Navigating salary and duties tests for employers

Employers in California often struggle with determining salaried exempt status for employees, as it involves both a "salary test" based on the minimum wage and a "duties test" requiring more than 50% of an employee's time be spent on higher-level tasks.

California exempt status explained: Navigating salary and duties tests for employers
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Employers often are confused about the criteria for determining salaried exempt status for their executive or administrative employees. It's a two-part test. There is a "salary test" and a "duties test."

The salary test in California is a formula based on two times the minimum wage. California employers must use the California minimum wage, not the local minimum wage in a particular city that might be higher. At the 2025 statewide minimum wage of $16.50...

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