Overtime Pay Calculator
Calculate regular pay, overtime pay, and total gross earnings for any pay period.
Supports 1.5x, 2x, and custom overtime rates with FLSA compliance notes.
Overtime Pay: US FLSA Rules
In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the federal baseline for overtime pay for non-exempt employees.
Basic FLSA Rule Any hours worked over 40 in a single workweek must be paid at 1.5 times the regular rate (time-and-a-half). This applies to all non-exempt hourly employees.
FLSA Formulas
- Regular pay = Regular hours × Hourly rate
- Overtime pay = Overtime hours × (Hourly rate × 1.5)
- Total gross pay = Regular pay + Overtime pay
Double Time Some states — most notably California — require double time (2× the regular rate) in specific situations:
- Hours worked over 12 in a single day (California)
- All hours worked on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek over 8 hours (California)
- Some union contracts and employer policies also include double time provisions
Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Salaried employees classified as “exempt” under the FLSA are not entitled to overtime pay. Exemption generally requires meeting a salary threshold ($684/week as of 2024) AND passing a duties test (executive, administrative, professional, computer, or outside sales roles).
State Variations Several states have overtime laws more generous than the federal FLSA:
- California: overtime after 8 hours/day (not just 40/week), double time after 12 hours/day
- Alaska, Nevada: daily overtime thresholds
- Colorado: 12-hour daily overtime threshold
- Employers must follow whichever law: state or federal, gives the employee the greater benefit.
Pay Periods Note that overtime is calculated based on the workweek (7-day period), not the pay period. A biweekly paycheck covers two workweeks — overtime in one week does not offset fewer hours in the other.