Prop 22 Calculator
Check if your gig driver earnings meet California's Prop 22 minimum guarantee. Uses official 2026 rates from the CA State Treasurer.
Your Earnings Details
Only time actively on a delivery or ride counts (accept to drop-off).
Miles driven during engaged time. Does not apply to bicycle/on-foot delivery.
Your base pay excluding tips, bonuses, and reimbursements.
Quick Tips
- Only "engaged time" counts — waiting between requests is not covered by Prop 22.
- Tips are excluded from the minimum calculation. Your base pay must meet the floor independently.
- Per-mile rates are updated annually by the CA State Treasurer based on CPI-U data.
Your Prop 22 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 Eligibility
Based on 30 hours per pay period (~15.0 hrs/week assuming biweekly):
41% of Covered CA premium
Hours must come from a single platform. You cannot combine hours across Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, etc.
Important Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates based on published Prop 22 rates and local minimum wages. Actual adjustments may vary based on your platform's specific calculation period and methodology. Per-mile rates sourced from the CA State Treasurer. 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 actual base earnings fall below this guaranteed minimum during a pay period, the platform must issue a top-up adjustment. This Prop 22 calculator helps you verify whether your platform is meeting its legal obligation.
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 actual base earnings (excluding tips) from the guaranteed minimum. If the result is positive, your platform owes you an adjustment. Platforms typically calculate this on a biweekly (Uber, Lyft) or weekly (DoorDash, Instacart) basis.
Important: Only base fare earnings count. Tips, referral bonuses, quest bonuses, cleaning fees, and toll reimbursements are all excluded from the minimum calculation.
Worked Examples
These examples use 2026 rates to illustrate how the Prop 22 guarantee works in practice.
Example 1: Underpaid LA Uber Driver
A driver in Los Angeles works 30 engaged hours and drives 400 engaged miles in a biweekly period, earning $650 in base fares.
Wage component: 120% x $17.87 x 30 = $643.32
Mileage component: $0.37 x 400 = $148.00
Guaranteed minimum: $643.32 + $148.00 = $791.32
Adjustment owed: $791.32 - $650.00 = $141.32
Example 2: SF DoorDash Driver Above Minimum
A driver in San Francisco works 20 engaged hours and drives 150 engaged miles in a weekly period, earning $550 in base fares.
Wage component: 120% x $18.67 x 20 = $448.08
Mileage component: $0.37 x 150 = $55.50
Guaranteed minimum: $448.08 + $55.50 = $503.58
No adjustment needed — earnings exceed minimum by $46.42
Example 3: Berkeley Instacart Shopper
A shopper in Berkeley works 15 engaged hours and drives 80 engaged miles in a weekly period, earning $300.
Wage component: 120% x $19.35 x 15 = $348.30
Mileage component: $0.37 x 80 = $29.60
Guaranteed minimum: $348.30 + $29.60 = $377.90
Adjustment owed: $377.90 - $300.00 = $77.90
2026 California City Minimum Wage Comparison for Prop 22
Local minimum wages significantly affect your Prop 22 guarantee. Here is how the 120% rate compares across major California cities in 2026:
| City | Min Wage | 120% Rate | 20hr Guarantee* | 40hr Guarantee* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California (State Default) | $16.90 | $20.28 | $405.60 | $811.20 |
| Berkeley | $19.35 | $23.22 | $464.40 | $928.80 |
| San Francisco | $18.67 | $22.40 | $448.08 | $896.16 |
| San Jose | $17.95 | $21.54 | $430.80 | $861.60 |
| Los Angeles | $17.87 | $21.44 | $428.88 | $857.76 |
| San Diego | $17.75 | $21.30 | $426.00 | $852.00 |
| Pasadena | $17.50 | $21.00 | $420.00 | $840.00 |
| Long Beach | $17.47 | $20.96 | $419.28 | $838.56 |
| Santa Monica | $17.27 | $20.72 | $414.48 | $828.96 |
| Oakland | $16.90 | $20.28 | $405.60 | $811.20 |
* Wage component only (excludes per-mile stipend). Actual guarantee depends on engaged miles.
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 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 – 25 hours | 41% of avg Covered CA premium | Monthly stipend from single platform |
| 25+ hours | 82% of avg Covered CA premium | Monthly stipend from single platform |
The stipend amount is tied to the average Covered California (the state ACA marketplace) premium, which changes annually. Drivers must be enrolled in a qualifying health plan to receive the stipend. This is separate from the earnings guarantee and is calculated monthly.
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. Check if Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash owe you a 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?
No. Tips, bonuses, referral payments, tolls, cleaning fees, and reimbursements are excluded from the minimum earnings calculation. Your base earnings from the platform must independently meet the Prop 22 floor before tips are added.
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 qualify. Those working 15-25 hours per week receive a stipend equal to 41% of the average Covered California premium. Drivers working 25 or more hours per week receive 82%. 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?
Calculation periods vary by platform. Uber and Lyft typically use biweekly periods, DoorDash uses weekly periods, and Instacart applies weekly adjustments. If your actual earnings fall below the guaranteed minimum during a calculation period, the platform must issue a top-up payment.
Alex specializes in personal finance modeling with experience in investment analysis and tax optimization. He ensures every financial calculator follows current IRS guidelines and industry-standard formulas.
- CFA Level II Candidate
- B.S. in Finance, University of Michigan
- 8 years in financial planning tools