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Salary & Taxes
Overtime Pay Calculator — Time-and-a-Half, Double Time & Gross Total
Time-and-a-half, double time and your real gross paycheck for the week
If you're an hourly worker in the United States, overtime is where a paycheck quietly grows — and also where employers and employees most often miscount the hours. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most non-exempt workers must be paid at least 1.5× their regular hourly rate for every hour worked over 40 in a workweek. That's the familiar "time-and-a-half." Some employers, union contracts, or state rules (like California's daily overtime and double-time rules) go further and pay 2× — "double time" — for holidays or hours past a certain threshold.
The math itself is simple once you separate the two buckets. Regular pay = regular hours × hourly rate. Overtime pay = overtime hours × hourly rate × multiplier. Your gross total is just the two added together. For example, say you earn $20/hour, work 40 regular hours and 6 overtime hours at time-and-a-half:
• Regular pay = 40 × $20 = $800 • Overtime pay = 6 × $20 × 1.5 = 6 × $30 = $180 • Gross total = 800 + 180 = $980 • Effective hourly = $980 ÷ 46 hours = $21.30/hour
That effective rate — your gross divided by total hours — is the number that tells you what your time was really worth this week, and it's always a little higher than your base rate whenever overtime kicks in.
The most common mistake is paying overtime at 1.5× the base rate plus the base rate again — in other words counting those hours twice. The overtime multiplier (1.5 or 2.0) is the total rate for those hours, not an extra on top of full pay. A second frequent error is calculating overtime on hours over 8 in a single day in states that only use the 40-hour weekly rule, or vice-versa — overtime thresholds depend on federal law plus your state. A third: forgetting that the "regular rate" for FLSA can include nondiscretionary bonuses and shift differentials, not just the base wage.
This calculator gives you the gross overtime pay — your paycheck before taxes and deductions. It is not the same as the No Tax on Overtime Calculator, which estimates the 2025 federal deduction on overtime premiums. Use this one to check that your hours, rate and multiplier add up correctly, then compare it against your actual pay stub.
📖 See also: Hourly vs Salary: How to Compare Job Offers
Calculator
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📰 Formula
• Regular pay = Regular hours × Hourly rate • Overtime pay = Overtime hours × Hourly rate × Multiplier • Gross total = Regular pay + Overtime pay • Effective hourly = Gross total ÷ (Regular hours + Overtime hours) • FLSA standard multiplier = 1.5 (time-and-a-half); double time = 2.0
📰 Formula
• Regular pay = Regular hours × Hourly rate • Overtime pay = Overtime hours × Hourly rate × Multiplier • Gross total = Regular pay + Overtime pay • Effective hourly = Gross total ÷ (Regular hours + Overtime hours) • FLSA standard multiplier = 1.5 (time-and-a-half); double time = 2.0
🧪 Worked examples
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⚠️ Common mistakes
- Counting overtime hours twice — the 1.5× rate is the total for those hours, not an add-on to full pay.
- Using a daily 8-hour overtime rule in a state that only follows the 40-hour weekly rule (or vice-versa).
- Multiplying all hours by 1.5 instead of only the hours over 40.
- Forgetting that the FLSA 'regular rate' can include nondiscretionary bonuses and shift differentials.
💡 Tips
- Federal overtime applies per workweek (over 40 hours), not per pay period — a biweekly check still counts each week separately.
- Double time (2×) is not required by federal law; it comes from state rules, union contracts or employer policy.
- Your effective hourly rate rises with every overtime hour — divide gross by total hours to see your real wage.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How is overtime pay calculated?
Overtime pay = overtime hours × your hourly rate × the multiplier. At time-and-a-half (1.5×) on $20/hour, each OT hour pays $30. Six OT hours = 6 × $30 = $180, on top of your regular pay.
What is time-and-a-half?
Time-and-a-half means 1.5 times your regular hourly rate. If you make $20/hour, your overtime rate is $30/hour. Under the FLSA, non-exempt workers must get at least this for hours over 40 in a workweek.
When does overtime kick in under federal law?
The FLSA requires overtime after 40 hours in a single workweek for non-exempt employees. There is no federal daily overtime rule — but some states, like California, add daily and double-time thresholds.
What is double time and is it required?
Double time is 2× your regular rate. Federal law does not require it. It usually comes from state laws (e.g., California pays 2× after 12 hours in a day), union contracts, or company holiday policy.
Is overtime calculated per week or per pay period?
Per workweek. Federal overtime is based on each 7-day workweek separately, even if you're paid biweekly or semimonthly. Hours from two different weeks are never combined to reach 40.
Do salaried employees get overtime?
Only if they're non-exempt. Salaried workers below the FLSA salary threshold, or who don't meet an exemption test, are still owed overtime. Exempt salaried employees (executive, administrative, professional) generally are not.
Does this calculator account for taxes on overtime?
No. This shows your gross overtime pay before any taxes or deductions. For the 2025 federal overtime tax deduction, use a dedicated No Tax on Overtime calculator instead.
How do I find my effective hourly rate with overtime?
Divide your gross total by total hours worked. If you earned $980 gross over 46 hours, your effective rate is $980 ÷ 46 ≈ $21.30/hour — higher than your $20 base because of the overtime premium.
Is overtime based on my base wage or includes bonuses?
The FLSA bases overtime on the 'regular rate,' which can include nondiscretionary bonuses, shift differentials and commissions — not just your base hourly wage. This calculator uses the rate you enter, so enter your true regular rate.