What Is Overtime Pay?
Overtime pay is the additional compensation that employers must pay employees who work beyond a set number of hours. In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes the baseline rule: non-exempt employees must receive at least 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for every hour worked over 40 in a single workweek.
This rule applies to most hourly workers and many salaried employees who earn below the salary threshold for exemption. Overtime is a fundamental labor right designed to compensate workers fairly for extended work hours and to discourage employers from overworking their staff.
Federal Overtime Rules (FLSA)
The 40-Hour Rule
Under federal law, a standard workweek is 40 hours. Any hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek are considered overtime hours. It's important to note that overtime is calculated on a weekly basis — employers cannot average hours across two or more weeks.
The 1.5× Multiplier
The overtime premium under FLSA is 1.5 times the employee's "regular rate of pay." This is commonly called "time and a half." For example, if your regular hourly rate is $20, your overtime rate would be $30 per hour ($20 × 1.5).
Overtime Rate = Hourly Rate × 1.5How to Calculate Step by Step
Step 1: Identify Your Regular Hours
Determine how many hours you worked in total during the workweek. If the total is 40 or fewer, all hours are regular hours and no overtime applies.
Regular Hours = min(Total Hours, 40)Step 2: Calculate Overtime Hours
Subtract the regular hours threshold (typically 40) from your total hours worked. The result is your overtime hours.
Overtime Hours = Total Hours - 40Step 3: Apply the Formula
Calculate each pay component and add them together:
Regular Pay = Regular Hours × Hourly RateOvertime Pay = OT Hours × Hourly Rate × 1.5Total Pay = Regular Pay + Overtime PayReal Calculation Example
Scenario: You earn $25/hour and worked 52 hours this week.
Calculate Your Overtime Pay Now
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State Differences
While federal law provides the baseline, some states have stricter overtime rules:
- California — Requires daily overtime after 8 hours, plus double time after 12 hours
- Alaska & Nevada — Require daily overtime after 8 hours in certain conditions
- Colorado — Requires overtime after 12 hours in a single day
- New York — Residential employees have a 44-hour weekly threshold
Always check your specific state's rules using our state-aware calculator to ensure accurate results.