For covered, nonexempt U.S. employees, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act generally requires at least 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. At a $20 regular hourly rate and 46 qualifying hours, six overtime hours add $180 of overtime pay, but exemption status, the workweek, regular-rate components, and state law must be checked first.
What overtime pay time and a half means
Overtime pay is an additional pay requirement for qualifying hours over the applicable threshold, calculated from the employee's regular rate under the governing rule. An overtime calculator applies entered hours and a rate; this guide identifies the legal and payroll facts that decide whether the simple time-and-a-half equation applies.
| Regular rate | $20 per hour |
|---|---|
| Workweek hours | 46 hours |
| Overtime hours | 6 hours |
| Overtime rate | $30 per hour |
| Illustrated gross pay | $980 |
Overtime pay: when does time-and-a-half apply and what must be checked?: worked example
An hourly nonexempt employee works 46 hours in one workweek at a $20 regular rate. Straight-time pay for 40 hours is $800. Six qualifying overtime hours at $30 are $180, for $980 total before deductions. The arithmetic changes if the stated hourly figure is not the legal regular rate, if a bonus must be included, or if a state rule gives a higher standard.
How to calculate overtime pay time and a half
Confirm jurisdiction, coverage, nonexempt status, defined workweek, all hours worked, and the regular-rate inputs. In the simplest hourly case, overtime premium pay = overtime hours times 1.5 times regular hourly rate. Keep the ordinary hourly pay and any extra premium distinct.
Use the relevant inputs with these related Calculatort pages: overtime calculator · hourly pay conversion · paycheck estimate.
Common mistakes
Do not average 46 hours in one week with 34 in the next, assume salaried status always means exempt, treat weekend work as federal overtime without looking at weekly hours, or ignore a state rule that is more protective.
Where this calculation stops
Public-sector work, specific occupations, collective agreements, fluctuating-workweek arrangements, bonuses, commissions, and state laws can require another calculation. A pay stub and local labor authority are needed for a real claim.
Source and verification
The U.S. Department of Labor states that covered, nonexempt employees generally receive at least one and one-half times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek and that a higher state standard can apply. Read the named source. Verify the source date and the controlling statement, agreement, payroll record, or accounting record before relying on the illustrated result.