Understanding Your Overtime Pay (The Easy Way)

In the United States, if you work more than 40 hours in a single week, your employer is generally required by law (FLSA) to pay you a higher rate for those extra hours. This is what we call Overtime.

What is "Time and a Half"?

Most overtime is calculated at 1.5x your regular hourly wage.
Example: If you earn $20/hour, your overtime rate would be $30/hour ($20 x 1.5).

How to Use This Calculator:

Regular Hourly Rate: Enter how much you earn per hour (your base pay).
Regular Hours: This is usually 40 hours for a standard US workweek.
Overtime Hours: Enter only the extra hours you worked (e.g., if you worked 45 hours, enter "5" in this box).

Key Terms You Should Know

Gross Pay	The total amount you earned before taxes and health insurance are taken out.
Workweek	A fixed period of 168 hours (7 consecutive 24-hour periods).
Double Time	In some states like California, if you work over 12 hours in a day, you get 2x your pay.

⚠️ Important Pro-Tip:

Always check if you are an "Exempt" or "Non-Exempt" employee. "Non-Exempt" workers are legally entitled to overtime pay, while some salaried managers ("Exempt") might not be. Our tool is designed for Non-Exempt workers to track their hard-earned money accurately.

Common Overtime Scenarios (Quick Reference)

$15/hr Base OT Rate: $22.50/hr

$25/hr Base OT Rate: $37.50/hr

$40/hr Base OT Rate: $60.00/hr