Overtime Pay Calculator
Calculate gross wages with 1.5x time-and-a-half and 2.0x double-time pay. Toggle between standard federal 40-hour weekly overtime and California daily overtime schedules.
Federal FLSA Overtime Rules & Mathematical Principles
Enacted in 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes fundamental labor standards for private sector and government employees in the United States. Section 207 of the FLSA dictates that covered, non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours during a designated workweek must be compensated for those excess hours at a rate no less than one and one-half times their regular rate of pay (time-and-a-half).
Under federal law, the workweek is defined as a fixed and regularly recurring period of 168 hours—seven consecutive 24-hour periods. It does not need to coincide with the calendar week and may begin on any day and at any hour established by the employer. Averaging hours over two or more weeks is strictly prohibited; each workweek stands alone.
Overtime & Blended Rate Mathematical Formulas
OT Rate = Regular Hourly Rate × 1.5DT Rate = Regular Hourly Rate × 2.0Gross = (Reg Hrs × Rate) + (OT Hrs × OT Rate) + (DT Hrs × DT Rate)Blended Rate = Total Gross ÷ Total Hours WorkedNeed to convert your regular hourly wage into equivalent annual or monthly earnings? Use our Hourly Rate to Salary Converter to calculate your baseline 2,080-hour salary. Negotiating higher base compensation during your review? Model prospective wage bumps using our Pay Raise Calculator, or explore civil service step schedules on the Federal Pay Raise 2026 Calculator.
Manual Overtime Calculation Examples ($20/hr, $35/hr, and $50/hr Base)
To calculate overtime pay by hand under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), calculate base pay for the first 40 hours, then multiply excess hours by 1.5 times the regular rate. Review these worked benchmarks for a 48-hour workweek (40 regular hours + 8 overtime hours):
Benchmark 1: $20.00/hr Base (48-Hour Workweek)
- Regular 40h Pay: 40 hours × $20.00 = $800.00
- Overtime Rate (1.5x): $20.00 × 1.5 = $30.00/hour
- Overtime 8h Pay: 8 hours × $30.00 = $240.00
- Total Gross Weekly Pay: $800.00 + $240.00 = $1,040.00 (Blended Rate: $21.67/hr)
Benchmark 2: $35.00/hr Base (48-Hour Workweek)
- Regular 40h Pay: 40 hours × $35.00 = $1,400.00
- Overtime Rate (1.5x): $35.00 × 1.5 = $52.50/hour
- Overtime 8h Pay: 8 hours × $52.50 = $420.00
- Total Gross Weekly Pay: $1,400.00 + $420.00 = $1,820.00 (Blended Rate: $37.92/hr)
Benchmark 3: $50.00/hr Base (48-Hour Workweek)
- Regular 40h Pay: 40 hours × $50.00 = $2,000.00
- Overtime Rate (1.5x): $50.00 × 1.5 = $75.00/hour
- Overtime 8h Pay: 8 hours × $75.00 = $600.00
- Total Gross Weekly Pay: $2,000.00 + $600.00 = $2,600.00 (Blended Rate: $54.17/hr)
California Labor Code Section 510: Daily Overtime & Double-Time
While federal FLSA rules only trigger overtime after 40 accumulated weekly hours, the State of California enforces significantly more stringent employee protections under California Labor Code Section 510 and Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) Wage Orders:
1. Daily Overtime (1.5x Time-and-a-Half)
Any work in excess of eight (8) hours up to and including twelve (12) hours in any one workday, and the first eight (8) hours worked on the seventh consecutive day of work in any workweek, must be paid at 1.5 times the regular rate.
2. Daily Double-Time (2.0x)
Any work in excess of twelve (12) hours in any one workday, and any work in excess of eight (8) hours on the seventh consecutive day of work in any workweek, must be compensated at not less than twice (2.0x) the regular rate of pay.
Overtime Rates & Weekly Earnings Reference Table
Calculated for standard federal workweeks comparing 40-hour base pay with 45-hour and 50-hour total workweeks.
| Base Wage | OT Rate (1.5x) | DT Rate (2.0x) | 45-Hour Week Gross | 50-Hour Week Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00/hr | $22.50/hr | $30.00/hr | $712.50 | $825.00 |
| $18.00/hr | $27.00/hr | $36.00/hr | $855.00 | $990.00 |
| $20.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $40.00/hr | $950.00 | $1,100.00 |
| $22.00/hr | $33.00/hr | $44.00/hr | $1,045.00 | $1,210.00 |
| $25.00/hr | $37.50/hr | $50.00/hr | $1,187.50 | $1,375.00 |
| $28.00/hr | $42.00/hr | $56.00/hr | $1,330.00 | $1,540.00 |
| $30.00/hr | $45.00/hr | $60.00/hr | $1,425.00 | $1,650.00 |
| $35.00/hr | $52.50/hr | $70.00/hr | $1,662.50 | $1,925.00 |
| $40.00/hr | $60.00/hr | $80.00/hr | $1,900.00 | $2,200.00 |
| $45.00/hr | $67.50/hr | $90.00/hr | $2,137.50 | $2,475.00 |
| $50.00/hr | $75.00/hr | $100.00/hr | $2,375.00 | $2,750.00 |
| $60.00/hr | $90.00/hr | $120.00/hr | $2,850.00 | $3,300.00 |
Overtime Pay FAQs
Clear explanations on FLSA compliance, California daily overtime rules, and double-time eligibility.
How does the FLSA define standard overtime pay?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), covered non-exempt employees must receive overtime compensation for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek at a rate of at least time and one-half (1.5x) their regular hourly rate. The FLSA measures overtime on a fixed 7-day, 168-consecutive-hour workweek basis, without imposing statutory caps on total weekly hours worked by adults.
How do you calculate 'time and a half' for an hourly wage?
To calculate 'time and a half,' multiply the employee's regular hourly wage rate by 1.5. For example, an employee earning $24.00 per hour has an overtime rate of $24.00 × 1.5 = $36.00 per hour; working 48 total hours (40 regular hours + 8 overtime hours) yields (40 × $24.00) + (8 × $36.00) = $960.00 + $288.00 = $1,248.00 in gross weekly pay.
What are California's daily overtime and double-time rules?
Under California Labor Code Section 510, employers must pay 1.5x overtime for any hours worked beyond 8 up to 12 in a single workday and for the first 8 hours on the 7th consecutive workday, and 2.0x double-time for all hours worked beyond 12 in a single workday and beyond 8 on the 7th consecutive workday. Unlike federal law which evaluates overtime strictly after 40 weekly hours, California mandates daily overtime thresholds regardless of weekly totals.
Are salaried employees eligible to receive overtime pay?
Salaried employees are legally eligible for overtime pay unless they meet all three statutory criteria for an FLSA exemption: they must receive a predetermined salary, earn at least the statutory minimum salary threshold ($684/week federally, higher in California and New York), and perform exempt executive, administrative, or professional (EAP) job duties. If a salaried employee does not pass both the salary level and duties tests, they remain non-exempt and must receive 1.5x overtime for hours over 40.
Does overtime pay get taxed at a higher rate on your paycheck?
Overtime pay is not taxed at a higher permanent tax rate, but payroll software may temporarily withhold taxes at a higher marginal bracket because it calculates withholding by annualizing that single larger paycheck. When you file your annual federal tax return (IRS Form 1040), your overtime earnings are pooled with standard wages and taxed according to your actual cumulative annual tax bracket, with any surplus withholdings returned as a tax refund.