How to Calculate Overtime Pay

February 19, 2025·4 min read

Overtime pay rewards the extra hours you work beyond a standard week. In the US, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires most non-exempt employees to be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

The overtime formula

Overtime pay = overtime hours × (hourly rate × overtime multiplier)

The most common multiplier is 1.5 (time and a half). Some employers or contracts pay 2× (double time) for holidays or hours beyond a second threshold.

A worked example

Suppose you earn $25 an hour, work 40 regular hours and 10 overtime hours in a week. Your overtime rate is $25 × 1.5 = $37.50. That week you earn $1,000 in regular pay plus $375 in overtime, for $1,375 total.

Hourly rateOT rate (1.5×)10 OT hours/weekOT per year (52 wks)
$18$27.00$270$14,040
$25$37.50$375$19,500
$35$52.50$525$27,300

Who qualifies for overtime?

  • Non-exempt employees (most hourly workers) are entitled to overtime.
  • Exempt employees — typically salaried roles meeting specific duties and a salary threshold — usually are not.
  • Some states have stricter rules, such as daily overtime after 8 hours.

To see your own numbers instantly, enter your rate and hours in the overtime pay calculator.

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Frequently asked questions

How is overtime pay calculated?

Multiply your overtime hours by your hourly rate times the overtime multiplier (usually 1.5). For example, $25/hr at time and a half is $37.50 per overtime hour.

What is time and a half?

Time and a half means 1.5× your regular hourly rate, the standard US overtime rate for non-exempt employees working over 40 hours a week.

Do salaried employees get overtime?

Salaried employees who are classified as exempt generally do not receive overtime, while non-exempt employees do, regardless of being paid a salary or hourly.