Overtime Calculator
Calculate your overtime pay using the federal FLSA time-and-a-half rate, double-time, or any custom multiplier. Enter your hourly rate and hours — the math runs instantly.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your regular hourly rate — your base wage before any overtime premium.
- Type the regular hours (usually 40 for a full week) and the overtime hours you actually worked.
- Pick the multiplier. 1.5× is the FLSA default; pick 2× for double-time or use the other presets for special situations.
- The total pay updates as you type. Use Share link to send your numbers to a manager or coworker — your inputs travel in the URL.
A real example: a 45-hour week at $20 an hour
You earn $20/hour and worked 45 hours this week — five over the standard 40. The math at the federal time-and-a-half rate:
- Regular pay: 40 hours × $20 = $800.00
- Overtime rate: $20 × 1.5 = $30 per OT hour
- Overtime pay: 5 hours × $30 = $150.00
- Total for the week: $950.00
Worth noticing: those 5 extra hours pay $150 instead of the $100 they'd pay at straight time. That's the whole point of overtime — the premium makes employers think twice before pushing past 40 hours, and rewards workers when they do.
Switch the multiplier to 2× for a holiday-rate scenario: same 5 OT hours pay $200 instead, taking the weekly total to $1,000.
How overtime pay is calculated
The FLSA rule is simple: hours over 40 in a workweek pay at least 1.5× the regular rate. The wrinkles tend to come from state laws or contracts that add to the federal floor:
- California has daily overtime. Over 8 hours in a single day pays 1.5×, and over 12 in a day pays 2× — even if your weekly total is under 40.
- "Regular rate" includes most non-discretionary pay. If you get a shift differential, a production bonus, or other guaranteed pay, your overtime rate is supposed to be based on the higher blended rate, not just your base. The Department of Labor calls this the "regular rate of pay" and it trips up a lot of employers.
- The workweek is a fixed seven-day period. Your employer picks it — often Sunday–Saturday — and it can't be juggled to avoid overtime. Hours don't "average" across weeks for FLSA purposes.
Overtime pay at common rates (40 reg + variable OT)
| Regular rate | 5 OT hrs (1.5×) | 10 OT hrs (1.5×) | 5 OT hrs (2×) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $112.50 | $225.00 | $150.00 |
| $20.00 | $150.00 | $300.00 | $200.00 |
| $25.00 | $187.50 | $375.00 | $250.00 |
| $30.00 | $225.00 | $450.00 | $300.00 |
| $40.00 | $300.00 | $600.00 | $400.00 |
Amounts shown are overtime pay only, not total weekly pay. Add regular hours at the regular rate to get total.
Tips on overtime
- Track your own hours. If there's ever a dispute about overtime, the employee's own contemporaneous record (a notebook, a time-tracking app, even texts to yourself) is strong evidence. Don't rely on the employer's system being the only record.
- "Comp time" is mostly illegal in the private sector. Some employers offer paid time off in lieu of overtime pay. Under FLSA, that's not allowed for non-exempt private-sector workers — they're entitled to cash overtime in the same pay period.
- Salaried doesn't always mean exempt. Misclassification is one of the most common wage-and-hour issues. If you're salaried but earn under the federal threshold or don't meet the duties tests, you may still be entitled to overtime.
- The state floor can be higher than federal. Always check your state's labor department for stricter rules. California, Alaska, Nevada, and a few others have daily-overtime rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FLSA overtime rule?
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires non-exempt employees to be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Some states have stricter rules — California, for example, requires daily overtime over 8 hours and double time over 12 hours in a day.
What's the overtime rate for $20/hour?
At time-and-a-half (the federal default), $20/hour becomes $30/hour for overtime. So 5 overtime hours at $20 regular pay you $150 in OT, on top of your regular wages.
Is double-time required by law?
Not under federal law. The FLSA only requires 1.5× over 40 hours in a workweek. California requires 2× for hours over 12 in a day or over 8 on the seventh consecutive workday. Many union contracts include double-time for holidays or extended shifts.
Am I exempt from overtime?
Most salaried positions paid above a federal threshold (roughly $58,656 in 2024 for most exemptions) and meeting specific duties tests are exempt from overtime under FLSA. Hourly workers are almost always non-exempt. Check with your HR department or the Department of Labor if you're unsure — the duties tests matter more than the title.