What is overtime pay?
Overtime pay is the premium rate you earn for working more than a standard workweek. Under the US federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular hourly rate — commonly called "time-and-a-half" — for every hour worked beyond 40 in a workweek. So if your normal rate is $20 per hour, each overtime hour pays $30.
This calculator answers one simple question: how much should those extra hours be worth? Type in your hourly rate and your total hours for the week, and it splits your pay into regular pay (up to the overtime threshold) and overtime pay (everything above it), then adds them together — plus a monthly estimate so you can see the bigger picture.
Most hourly workers are non-exempt and covered by the FLSA. Some salaried workers are exempt based on their job duties and salary level, meaning overtime law doesn't apply to them. If you're not sure which category you're in, ask your employer or HR department, or check the US Department of Labor's guidance.
The overtime formula
The math is simple once you split the week in two:
- Regular hours = the smaller of (total hours, threshold). With the standard 40-hour threshold, a 47-hour week has 40 regular hours; a 38-hour week has 38.
- Overtime hours = total hours − threshold (or zero if you didn't reach the threshold).
- Regular pay = Regular hours × Hourly rate.
- Overtime pay = Overtime hours × Hourly rate × 1.5.
- Total weekly pay = Regular pay + Overtime pay.
- Estimated monthly pay = Total weekly pay × 4.33 (52 weeks ÷ 12 months).
Worked example
Say you earn $18 per hour and work a 47-hour week. Your regular pay is 40 × $18 = $720.00. Your overtime hours are 47 − 40 = 7, and your overtime pay is 7 × $18 × 1.5 = $189.00. Add them together: $720 + $189 = $909.00 total weekly pay.
Your estimated monthly pay is $909 × 4.33 ≈ $3,935.97. Try it in the calculator above — enter 18 as the rate, 47 as the hours, keep the threshold at 40 and the multiplier at 1.5×, and you'll see the same numbers.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your hourly pay rate — your gross rate before taxes and deductions.
- Enter your total hours worked this week. If you track daily times instead, add them up with our work hours calculator first.
- Check the overtime threshold. It defaults to 40, the federal standard. Only change it if your employer or state uses a different threshold.
- Pick your overtime multiplier: 1.5× (time-and-a-half, the federal minimum) or 2× (double time).
- Read your results: regular hours and pay, overtime hours and pay, total weekly pay, and an estimated monthly pay.
What about double time?
Double time — 2× your hourly rate — isn't required by federal law, but it exists in the real world. Some states require it (California mandates double time after 12 hours in a single workday), some union contracts include it, and some employers offer it for holidays or extreme overtime. That's why this calculator includes a 2× option in the multiplier dropdown: if any of your overtime qualifies for double time, select it to see the higher estimate. When only part of your week is double time, run the calculation twice and add the results.
FLSA basics in plain English
The Fair Labor Standards Act is the federal law behind overtime pay in the United States. Its core rule: non-exempt employees get at least time-and-a-half for hours over 40 in a workweek (a fixed 7-day period). Key things to know: the law sets a floor, not a ceiling — employers and states can be more generous; it applies per workweek, so a busy Monday and an easy Friday balance out within the same week; and it doesn't require extra pay for weekends, holidays, or night work unless those hours push you over 40.
This calculator implements the federal baseline. States like California, Alaska, and Nevada add daily overtime rules, and your employer's own policies may go further. Use this tool for quick estimates and pay-stub checks — for disputes, talk to HR or your state's labor office.
Frequently asked questions
Who is entitled to overtime pay?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Most hourly workers are non-exempt. Some salaried workers are classified as exempt based on job duties and salary level and are not entitled to overtime — check with your employer or the Department of Labor if you are unsure.
What is time-and-a-half?
Time-and-a-half means 1.5 times your normal hourly rate. At $20 per hour, an overtime hour pays $30. It is the federal minimum overtime rate for non-exempt employees.
When does double time apply?
Double time (2 times your hourly rate) is not required by federal law, but some states, employers, and union contracts require or offer it — for example, California requires double time after 12 hours in a single day. Use the multiplier dropdown in this calculator to estimate double-time pay.
How do I estimate my monthly pay from a weekly paycheck?
Multiply your weekly pay by 4.33, which is the average number of weeks in a month (52 weeks divided by 12 months). This calculator shows that estimate automatically. Remember it is an average — months have 4 or 5 paydays depending on the calendar.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes. TimeTally Tools is completely free with no sign-up. All calculations run in your browser, and your entries are never sent to a server.
Related tools
- Work Hours Calculator — enter daily clock-in/out times to get your total weekly hours first.
- Time Card Calculator — fill out a weekly time card with lunch deductions.
- Salary to Hourly Calculator — convert an annual salary into an hourly rate to use above.
- Tip Calculator — split bills and figure out tips in seconds.