- US & UK · 2026 Rates
Overtime Pay Calculator
Calculate your total pay for any week — including overtime at 1.5× or 2× — in seconds. Based on US federal FLSA rules with UK law explained below.
The formula behind the calculator
Overtime Pay Calculator
Calculate total earnings including overtime for any pay period under FLSA rules
What is overtime pay?
Overtime pay is the extra compensation you receive for working beyond your normal contracted hours. In most cases it is paid at a higher rate than your regular hourly wage — the most common rate is time and a half, meaning 1.5 times your normal pay for every hour over the threshold.
The rules differ significantly between the US and the UK. The calculator above handles US federal FLSA calculations for both hourly and salaried workers. UK overtime rules are explained in full in Section 5 below.
How to use this calculator
The calculator works for both hourly workers and salaried non-exempt employees. Use the tabs at the top to switch between the two modes.
For hourly workers: Enter your regular hourly rate, your standard hours for the pay period (usually 40 per week), and how many overtime hours you worked. If you worked any double-time hours (2×) — common for California workers, holiday shifts, and some union contracts — enter those separately in the double-time field. Then select your overtime multiplier: 1.5× for standard time and a half, 2× for double time, or custom if your contract specifies a different rate. Finally, choose your pay period — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly — and the results will scale automatically.
For salaried employees: Enter your annual salary and your standard contracted hours per week (usually 40). Enter the overtime hours you worked this period and choose your pay period. The calculator converts your annual salary to a weekly base rate, divides by your contracted hours to find your effective hourly rate, then applies the 1.5× overtime multiplier to every overtime hour. This matches the method most US payroll systems use for salaried non-exempt employees.
Reading your results: The results panel shows your regular pay, overtime pay, total gross pay for the period, and your overtime rate per hour. The pay breakdown bar chart shows visually how much of your total pay came from regular hours versus overtime versus any double-time hours.
Note on UK workers: This calculator is based on US federal FLSA rules. If you are a UK worker, Section 5 below explains UK overtime law in full, including the National Minimum Wage check and time off in lieu rules — use those figures as a manual reference.
US overtime rules — what the FLSA says
The basic rule
US overtime law is governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), enacted in 1938 and still the foundation of American wage law. The rule is straightforward: non-exempt employees must receive at least 1.5 times their regular rate of pay for every hour worked over 40 in a fixed seven-day workweek.
That is the only threshold that triggers overtime under federal law. The FLSA does not require premium pay for working nights, weekends, or public holidays — unless those hours push your total for the week above 40.
The overtime formula
Overtime pay = (Regular hourly rate × 1.5) × overtime hours
Total weekly pay = (Regular rate × 40) + (Overtime rate × overtime hours)
Worked example — Sarah earns $20/hour and works 48 hours this week:
- Regular pay: $20 × 40 hours = $800
- Overtime rate: $20 × 1.5 = $30/hour
- Overtime pay: $30 × 8 overtime hours = $240
- Total weekly pay: $1,040
Without overtime protection, Sarah would have earned $20 × 48 = $960. The FLSA adds $80 to her paycheck for those 8 extra hours.
Exempt vs non-exempt — who qualifies for overtime?
Not every employee is entitled to overtime. The FLSA divides workers into two categories.
Non-exempt employees are covered by the overtime rules and must be paid 1.5× for all hours over 40. Most hourly workers are non-exempt.
Exempt employees do not qualify for FLSA overtime. To be exempt, an employee must meet two tests simultaneously:
- Salary test: Earn at least $684 per week ($35,568 per year) as of 2026
- Duties test: Their primary job duties must qualify under the executive, administrative, or professional exemptions
If your employer calls you salaried but pays you less than $684 per week, you are almost certainly still entitled to overtime. The label your employer uses does not determine your FLSA status — your actual salary and job duties do.
California overtime rules — stricter than federal law
California has stricter overtime rules than federal law. If you work in California, you are entitled to:
- 1.5× your regular rate for hours over 8 in a single workday
- 1.5× your regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek
- 2× your regular rate for hours over 12 in a single workday
- 2× your regular rate for every hour on your 7th consecutive workday in a week (after the first 8 hours)
This means California workers can trigger overtime on a long workday even if their weekly total stays under 40 hours. Alaska and Nevada also have daily overtime rules. Use the double-time hours field in the calculator to account for any 2× hours you are owed.
2025–2028 Update: No Tax on Overtime — What US Workers Need to Know
This is one of the most significant changes to overtime pay in decades and most workers have not heard about it yet.
What happened: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, created a new federal income tax deduction specifically for overtime pay. It applies retroactively to the 2025 tax year and runs through 2028.
What it means in plain English: If you are a non-exempt FLSA employee who earns overtime, you can deduct the overtime premium — the extra “half” portion of your time-and-a-half pay — from your federal taxable income when you file your tax return. This reduces your annual tax bill. You do not get it as extra cash in your paycheck — it is a deduction you claim when filing.
The deduction rules at a glance:
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Non-exempt FLSA employees only |
| What is deductible | Only the “half” premium of time-and-a-half — not the full overtime amount |
| Maximum deduction | $12,500 for single filers / $25,000 for married filing jointly |
| Income phase-out | Deduction reduces above $150,000 MAGI ($300,000 for joint filers) |
| Years it applies | 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 only |
| FICA taxes | Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) still apply to all overtime earnings |
| State taxes | Most states have NOT adopted this deduction — check your state |
Worked example — how the deduction saves you money: Marcus earns $25/hour and works 10 hours of overtime every week for the full year.
- Weekly overtime premium (the “half” portion): $25 × 0.5 × 10 hours = $125
- Annual overtime premium: $125 × 52 weeks = $6,500
- Federal tax saving (22% bracket): $6,500 × 22% = $1,430 back at tax time
Marcus does not pay zero tax on his overtime — he deducts the premium from his taxable income, which lowers his overall annual tax bill.
Important — FICA taxes still apply. Social Security and Medicare are still withheld from every dollar of overtime earnings. The deduction only reduces federal income tax, not payroll taxes.
Starting 2026: Employers are required to report qualified overtime compensation separately on your Form W-2, making it straightforward to claim the deduction at tax time.
UK overtime rules — what the law says
Note for UK workers: The calculator above is US-only. The information below explains UK overtime law in full so you can calculate your pay manually. A dedicated UK overtime calculator is coming soon.
UK overtime rules are fundamentally different from the US. There is no legal requirement for UK employers to pay overtime at a premium rate. Your employment contract entirely determines whether you receive overtime pay and at what rate.
What UK law does require: Your average hourly pay across all hours worked — including overtime — must not fall below the National Minimum Wage (£12.21/hour for workers aged 21 and over from April 2025). If unpaid or underpaid overtime drags your effective hourly rate below the minimum wage, your employer is breaking the law.
Common UK overtime arrangements:
| Arrangement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Plain time (1×) | Overtime paid at the same rate as regular hours |
| Time and a half (1.5×) | Most common premium rate in UK contracts |
| Double time (2×) | Typically for bank holidays and some night shifts |
| Time off in lieu (TOIL) | Extra time off instead of extra pay — must be agreed in writing |
Working Time Regulations 1998: UK workers cannot be required to work more than an average of 48 hours per week unless they have signed a written opt-out agreement. The average is calculated over a 17-week reference period — so one busy week does not automatically breach the limit.
Overtime and holiday pay: Regular overtime must be included when calculating holiday pay in the UK. If you regularly work overtime, your employer must base your holiday pay on your average earnings over the previous 52 weeks — not just your basic contracted salary. This is one of the most common areas of underpayment in the UK — many workers are owed money because their employer excluded regular overtime when calculating holiday pay.
Time and a half reference table — common US hourly rates
Use this table to quickly check your overtime rate and weekly pay without using the calculator.
| Regular hourly rate | Time and a half (1.5×) | Total pay — 45-hour week | Total pay — 50-hour week |
|---|---|---|---|
| $12.00/hr | $18.00/hr | $570 | $660 |
| $15.00/hr | $22.50/hr | $712.50 | $825 |
| $18.00/hr | $27.00/hr | $855 | $990 |
| $20.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $950 | $1,100 |
| $25.00/hr | $37.50/hr | $1,187.50 | $1,375 |
| $30.00/hr | $45.00/hr | $1,425 | $1,650 |
| $35.00/hr | $52.50/hr | $1,662.50 | $1,925 |
All figures are gross pay before tax. A 45-hour week = 40 regular + 5 overtime hours. A 50-hour week = 40 regular + 10 overtime hours.
FAQ
Does my employer have to pay me overtime for working weekends?
In the US, no — not automatically. The FLSA only requires overtime when your total hours in a workweek exceed 40, regardless of which days those hours fall on. If you work 8 hours on Saturday as part of a normal 40-hour week, there is no federal overtime obligation. If those Saturday hours push you above 40 for the week, the excess must be paid at 1.5×. In the UK, weekend premium pay depends entirely on your employment contract.
I am salaried — can I still get overtime?
My employer gives me comp time instead of overtime pay — is that legal?
How is overtime calculated for salaried employees in the US?
Does the no-tax-on-overtime deduction apply to my state taxes?
What if my employer is not paying me overtime I am owed?
Is overtime pay taxed at a higher rate?
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DISCLAIMER:
Results from this calculator are for guidance purposes only and are based on US federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rules. Tax
estimates are approximate — your actual tax will depend on your individual circumstances, filing status, and state. The no-tax-on-
overtime information on this page reflects the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) as enacted July 4, 2025, and IRS guidance current as of April 2026. This calculator does not account for state-specific daily overtime rules — check your state’s labor laws for additional
protections. Always consult a qualified tax professional or payroll specialist for advice specific to your situation. US workers can contact the DOL Wage and Hour Division at dol.gov/agencies/whd. UK workers can contact ACAS on 0300 123 1100. Last reviewed: April 2026.