Prop 22 Calculator
Estimate your 2026 California Prop 22 pay adjustment for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and delivery work using official CA State Treasurer rates.
Your Earnings Details
Only time actively on a delivery or ride counts (accept to drop-off).
Miles driven during engaged time. Enter 0 miles for bicycle/on-foot delivery; the mileage allowance applies only to motor vehicles.
Exclude tips and referral bonuses. Include earnings that your platform counts toward its guarantee; DoorDash includes Peak Pay and Challenges. Check the platform statement for the same calculation period.
Default: California state wage for 2026. Enter the wage applicable to your pickup location and work dates. Changing the mileage year does not update this wage.
Quick Tips
- Only "engaged time" counts — waiting between requests is not covered by Prop 22.
- Tips are excluded from the minimum calculation. Check platform-counted earnings, including applicable promotions.
- Per-mile rates are updated annually by the CA State Treasurer based on CPI-U data.
Your Prop 22 Pay Adjustment Result
Guaranteed Minimum
$756.40
Your Earnings
$650.00
Calculation Breakdown
120% x $16.90 x 30 hrs
$0.37/mi x 400 mi
Healthcare stipend is separate
This pay-period estimate cannot determine quarterly healthcare eligibility. Use your platform's average weekly active hours over the quarter and its qualifying-plan requirements.
Important Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates based on published Prop 22 rates and minimum-wage inputs. Actual adjustments may vary based on your platform's pay period and records. The 2026 statewide minimum wage is from the California DIR, the 2026 per-mile rate is from the California State Treasurer, and the formula follows the Prop 22 text. This is not legal or financial advice.
What Is California Prop 22?
California Proposition 22, officially titled the "App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative," was approved by voters in November 2020. It classifies app-based transportation and delivery drivers — those working for companies like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Postmates — as independent contractors rather than employees, while providing certain minimum earnings guarantees and benefits.
The core protection is an earnings floor: platforms must ensure drivers earn at least 120% of the applicable local minimum wage for their "engaged time," plus a per-mile vehicle expense stipend adjusted annually for inflation. If a driver's platform-counted earnings fall below this guaranteed minimum during a pay period, the platform must issue a top-up adjustment. Use this estimate to compare the inputs and breakdown with your platform statement; it does not determine an actual payment obligation.
Official 2026 formula sources
- Prop 22 defines the earnings floor as 120% of the applicable minimum wage for engaged time plus per-mile compensation for engaged miles.
- California DIR lists the statewide minimum wage as $16.90/hour effective January 1, 2026. Enter a higher local wage when the pickup city requires one.
- The California State Treasurer published the 2026 Prop 22 per-mile compensation rate as $0.37 per engaged mile.
How to Calculate Your Prop 22 Earnings Guarantee
The Prop 22 minimum earnings guarantee has two components that are added together:
Prop 22 Formula
Guaranteed Minimum = (120% x Local Min Wage x Engaged Hours) + (Per-Mile Rate x Engaged Miles)
120% x Local Min Wage — the wage floor per hour of engaged time (e.g., $16.90 x 1.2 = $20.28/hr for state default in 2026)
Engaged Hours — time from accepting a request to completing it (not waiting time)
Per-Mile Rate — $0.37/mile in 2026, set annually by the CA State Treasurer
Engaged Miles — miles driven during engaged time only
To check for an underpayment: subtract your platform-counted earnings (excluding tips) from the guaranteed minimum. If the result is positive, the estimate shows a possible adjustment. DoorDash reviews weekly; for another platform, use its published period and the matching statement.
Important: Use the earnings included in your platform guarantee, not base pay alone. For DoorDash include Peak Pay and Challenges and exclude tips and referral bonuses. Other platforms require their own pay statement definitions.
Official DoorDash example (2026)
For one week with 10 active hours, 100 active motor-vehicle miles and a $16.90 applicable minimum wage: 1.2 × $16.90 × 10 + $0.37 × 100 = $239.80 guaranteed earnings. With $190 delivery pay, the estimated adjustment is $49.80. With $240 delivery pay, the adjustment is $0. Tips do not reduce either estimate.
DoorDash official example and delivery-pay definition — checked September 11, 2026. Other platforms require their own period and earnings definitions.
Use the wage for your work dates and pickup location
Local rates can change during a year. Verify your applicable rate before entering it above. The examples use illustrative wage inputs, not a current city wage database.
Prop 22 Healthcare Stipend
In addition to the earnings floor, Prop 22 requires platforms to provide a healthcare stipend for drivers who work enough hours. The stipend is based on weekly average engaged hours across a calendar quarter from a single platform — you cannot combine hours across Uber and Lyft, for example.
| Weekly Engaged Hours | Healthcare Stipend | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 hours | Not eligible | No healthcare stipend provided |
| 15 to under 25 hours | 50% of applicable ACA contribution amount | Quarterly stipend from a single platform after proof of coverage |
| 25+ hours | 100% of applicable ACA contribution amount | Quarterly stipend from a single platform after proof of coverage |
The stipend amount is tied to the average ACA contribution for an applicable average monthly Covered California bronze premium, which changes annually. Drivers must be enrolled in a qualifying health plan and submit proof of coverage to receive the stipend. This benefit is separate from the earnings guarantee and is evaluated by calendar quarter.
Tips for Maximizing Your Prop 22 Earnings
- Track your engaged hours accurately. Many platforms only display total online time. Use a separate tracker to log the hours from request acceptance to drop-off, which is the metric that matters for Prop 22.
- Log your engaged miles. The per-mile stipend ($0.37 in 2026) adds up quickly. Track miles during active deliveries or rides separately from deadhead miles.
- Check every pay period. Use this calculator after each pay cycle to verify your platform issued the correct adjustment. Underpayments can accumulate if unchecked.
- Keep records for tax time. Prop 22 adjustments count as income for tax purposes. The per-mile stipend, however, is intended to offset vehicle expenses — consult a tax professional about deductions.
- Concentrate hours on one platform for healthcare. Since healthcare stipend eligibility requires 15+ hours from a single platform, splitting time evenly across two apps could leave you below the threshold on both.
Frequently Asked Questions
About This Calculator
Free Prop 22 calculator for California gig drivers. Estimate a California gig-work pay adjustment using official 2026 CA State Treasurer rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Prop 22?
California Proposition 22, passed in November 2020, classifies app-based drivers as independent contractors while guaranteeing minimum earnings of 120% of local minimum wage for engaged time, plus a per-mile vehicle expense stipend. It applies to platforms like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Postmates.
How is the Prop 22 minimum earnings guarantee calculated?
The formula is: (120% x local minimum wage x engaged hours) + (per-mile rate x engaged miles). Only "engaged time" counts, which is the period from accepting a ride or delivery request to completing it. Waiting time between requests is not included.
Are tips included in the Prop 22 minimum earnings calculation?
Exclude tips and referral bonuses. Include earnings that your platform counts toward its guarantee; DoorDash includes Peak Pay and Challenges. Check the platform statement for the same calculation period.
What is the current Prop 22 per-mile rate for 2026?
For 2026, the official per-mile vehicle expense rate is $0.37, as published by the California State Treasurer. This rate is adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) from the prior November.
Who qualifies for the Prop 22 healthcare stipend?
Drivers averaging 15 or more engaged hours per week from a single platform may qualify if they provide proof of enrollment in a qualifying health plan. Prop 22 sets the lower tier at 50% of the applicable ACA contribution amount and the 25+ hour tier at 100% of that contribution amount. Hours cannot be combined across multiple platforms.
Does Prop 22 apply to bicycle and on-foot delivery workers?
The 120% minimum wage earnings guarantee applies to all app-based workers including bicycle and on-foot delivery workers. However, the per-mile vehicle expense stipend does not apply to bicycle or on-foot deliveries since there are no vehicle expenses.
How often do gig apps calculate Prop 22 adjustments?
Use the calculation period specified by your platform. DoorDash reviews weekly. Do not combine earnings and active time from different periods or platforms.
The SuperCalc Editorial Team maintains calculator interfaces, formula notes, examples, and supporting explanations. Methods, assumptions, source links, and review depth vary by calculator and are documented on the relevant page where available.