How to use the overtime calculator
- Choose the overtime rule: US federal, California, or a custom rule (for example a union contract or another country).
- Enter your regular hourly rate.
- For federal or custom rules, enter the total hours worked in the workweek. For California, enter the hours for each day.
- Read your regular, overtime and double-time pay and the weekly total.
The formulas
Federal (FLSA): Regular pay = min(Hours, 40) × Rate Overtime pay = max(Hours − 40, 0) × Rate × 1.5 California (each day): 0–8 h → regular 8–12 h → 1.5× over 12 h → 2× 7th consecutive day: first 8 h → 1.5×, over 8 h → 2× Regular hours beyond 40 in the week → 1.5×
Worked examples
- Federal: $20/h, 50 hours → 40 × $20 = $800 + 10 × $30 = $300 → $1,100.
- California, five 10-hour days: each day is 8 regular + 2 overtime → 40 × $20 + 10 × $30 = $1,100.
- California, one 13-hour day and four 8-hour days: 40 regular, 4 overtime and 1 double time → $800 + $120 + $40 = $960. Under federal rules the same 45 hours would pay $950.
- California, 8 hours on all seven days: 40 regular, 8 weekly overtime on day 6 and 8 seventh-day overtime → $1,280.
Overtime rates at common wages
| Hourly rate | Time and a half | Double time | Pay for 50 h (federal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $22.50 | $30.00 | $825 |
| $18.00 | $27.00 | $36.00 | $990 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 | $1,100 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $50.00 | $1,375 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 | $1,650 |
| $40.00 | $60.00 | $80.00 | $2,200 |
Important details
- The workweek is fixed: it is a set 168-hour period (seven consecutive 24-hour days) chosen by the employer. Hours can’t be averaged over two weeks.
- Regular rate includes some extras: non-discretionary bonuses, shift differentials and commissions are added to the regular rate used for overtime, so real overtime pay can be higher than this simple calculation.
- Salaried doesn’t always mean exempt: salaried employees who don’t meet the duties and salary tests are still entitled to overtime.
- Other countries: overtime rules differ — for example in Canada provinces set their own thresholds (often 40 or 44 hours), and in the UK there is no legal right to overtime pay as long as average pay stays above the minimum wage. Use the custom rule for these.
Gross vs take-home pay
The calculator shows gross pay. Federal and state income tax, Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) are withheld from overtime just like regular pay. Overtime may look heavily taxed on a single paycheck because withholding tables treat that week as if you earned it every week; any excess is settled when you file your tax return. Recent US federal law also introduced a deduction for some qualified overtime pay from 2025 to 2028, which can lower the income tax due — check the IRS guidance for whether you qualify.