Overtime Pay Calculator
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About Overtime Pay
Overtime is where paycheck math surprises people in both directions: an extra 8 hours at time-and-a-half adds 30% more pay than 8 regular hours would — but it's also where employers make errors, from mis-set thresholds to “averaging” two weeks of a biweekly period, which the rules don't allow.
Enter your rate, the week's hours, and your threshold and premium. You get the regular/overtime split, the overtime rate in dollars, gross total, and your effective average hourly rate for the week. Run each week of a pay period separately — that's how the law counts it too.
Turning the overtime bump into something permanent? Point it at the Savings Calculator
The Overtime Formula
A two-bucket split at the threshold:
Regular pay = min(hours, threshold) × rate Overtime pay = max(0, hours − threshold) × rate × multiplier Gross = regular + overtime
Worked example: $20/hour, 48 hours, 40-hour threshold at 1.5× — regular 40 × $20 = $800, overtime 8 × $30 = $240, gross $1,040. The effective average rate for the week is $21.67/hour.
Time-and-a-Half Cheat Sheet
Overtime rates and a 48-hour-week gross at common wages (40 h threshold, 1.5×):
| Regular rate | OT rate (1.5×) | Gross for 48 h | vs 40-h gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $22.50 | $780.00 | +$180 |
| $18.00 | $27.00 | $936.00 | +$216 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $1,040.00 | +$240 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $1,300.00 | +$300 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $1,560.00 | +$360 |
Rule of thumb hiding in the last column: every overtime hour at 1.5× adds 1.5 regular hours' worth of pay — 8 OT hours pay like 12 regular ones.
Who Actually Gets Overtime
US federal law (the FLSA) owes overtime to non-exempt employees — most hourly workers — at 1.5× past 40 hours per workweek. Exempt roles (many salaried professional, administrative, and executive positions meeting salary and duties tests) aren't owed it. States can only add: California's daily overtime past 8 hours and double time past 12 in a day are the famous example, and a handful of states have their own daily rules — which is why the calculator lets you change both threshold and multiplier.
Two mistakes worth catching on a pay stub: biweekly averaging (45 + 35 hours = 5 OT hours owed for week one; a flat 80 with no OT is wrong) and the “regular rate” for overtime purposes — nondiscretionary bonuses and shift differentials legally fold into the rate the 1.5× multiplies. If the numbers here and on your stub keep disagreeing, your state labor department is the free next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate time and a half?
Multiply your regular rate by 1.5 for the overtime rate, then apply it to hours past 40 in the week: at $20/hour, overtime pays $30, so 48 hours grosses 40 × $20 + 8 × $30 = $1,040.
What is time and a half for $20 an hour?
$30 per hour. Common quick figures: $15 → $22.50, $18 → $27, $25 → $37.50, $30 → $45. Double time simply doubles the base rate instead.
Does overtime apply to a biweekly 80-hour period?
No — the FLSA counts each workweek separately. 45 hours then 35 hours owes 5 overtime hours from week one, even though the total is exactly 80. Employers who average across the period are calculating it wrong.
When is double time required?
Federal law never requires it — double time is a state or contract matter. California is the standard example: 2× past 12 hours in a day and past 8 hours on the seventh consecutive workday. Elsewhere it's typically union contracts and holiday policies.
Do salaried employees get overtime?
Salaried non-exempt employees do — salary alone doesn't waive overtime. Exempt status requires meeting both a salary threshold and a duties test (professional/administrative/executive). Misclassification is one of the most common wage disputes.
Is overtime taxed at a higher rate?
No — it's ordinary income. Withholding on a big-overtime check can LOOK heavier because payroll systems annualize each check, but the actual tax comes out the same at filing. The overtime premium is real money, not a tax trap.
Methodology. This calculator uses standard financial formulas used across the industry. It is reviewed and maintained by the Vast Calculators editorial team.
Last updated · July 2026
Disclaimer. This tool provides estimates for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making decisions about your finances.