Overtime Calculator

What is Overtime?

Overtime is additional pay earned when employees work beyond standard hours, typically paid at 1.5 times (time and a half) or 2 times (double time) the regular hourly rate. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most non-exempt employees must receive overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. However, many states have additional daily overtime requirements that provide even more protection for workers.

Federal Overtime Rules (FLSA)

The Fair Labor Standards Act establishes the baseline overtime rules in the United States:

• Weekly Overtime: 1.5x regular rate for all hours over 40 in a workweek
• No Daily Overtime: Federal law doesn't require daily overtime
• No Weekend Premium: Saturday/Sunday work isn't automatically OT
• Non-Exempt Workers: Hourly workers and most salaried employees below threshold
• Exempt Workers: Executive, administrative, professional, and certain other roles
• 2024 Salary Threshold: $43,888/year (increasing to $58,656 in 2025)

State Overtime Laws

Many states have overtime laws that exceed federal requirements. Key state laws include:

• California: 1.5x for 8+ hrs/day or 40+ hrs/wk; 2x for 12+ hrs/day or all hours on 7th consecutive day
• Alaska: 1.5x for 8+ hrs/day or 40+ hrs/wk
• Colorado: 1.5x for 12+ hrs/day or 40+ hrs/wk
• Nevada: 1.5x for 8+ hrs/day (if hourly rate < 1.5x minimum wage) or 40+ hrs/wk
• Colorado: Additional rules for certain industries
• New York: Follows federal rules but has spread-of-hours pay requirements
• Kansas: 1.5x for 46+ hrs/wk for certain employers

How Overtime Pay is Calculated

The overtime calculation formula depends on the applicable rules:

• Time and a half: Regular rate × 1.5 (e.g., $25/hr × 1.5 = $37.50/hr)
• Double time: Regular rate × 2 (e.g., $25/hr × 2 = $50/hr)
• Regular pay: Hours up to threshold × regular rate
• OT premium: OT hours × (multiplier - 1) × regular rate
• Total pay: (All hours × regular rate) + OT premium

Example: Working 45 hours at $25/hr with weekly OT at 40 hrs:

• Regular pay: 45 hrs × $25 = $1,125
• OT premium: 5 hrs × $25 × 0.5 = $62.50
• Total: $1,187.50

Daily vs Weekly Overtime

The two main types of overtime calculations:

• Weekly Overtime: Triggered when total weekly hours exceed threshold (usually 40)
• Daily Overtime: Triggered when daily hours exceed threshold (usually 8-12 hrs)
• 7th Day Premium: California requires double time for all hours on 7th consecutive workday
• No "Pyramiding": Most states don't allow the same hours to count as both daily and weekly OT

When both daily and weekly OT apply, employers must pay whichever calculation results in higher overtime compensation - they cannot choose the lower amount.

Who Qualifies for Overtime?

Overtime eligibility depends on several factors:

• Non-exempt employees: Most hourly workers qualify for overtime
• Exempt employees: Salaried workers in executive, administrative, professional roles above salary threshold
• Independent contractors: Not entitled to overtime under FLSA
• Commission employees: May be exempt if they meet specific criteria
• Certain industries: Transportation, agriculture, and seasonal businesses may have special rules