Overtime Pay Calculator

Know exactly what your extra hours are worth

Overtime is where hourly workers earn a meaningful premium — but only if the math is right. The overtime calculator takes your regular rate, regular hours, overtime hours and multiplier (default 1.5×) and returns regular pay, overtime pay, the total, and your effective blended hourly rate.

The formula

The FLSA generally requires 1.5× the regular rate for hours over 40/week. Some unions or states mandate 2× or daily OT; change the multiplier to model those.

Worked example

At $20/hr, 40 regular + 10 overtime hours at 1.5×: regular pay = 20 × 40 = $800; overtime pay = 20 × 1.5 × 10 = $300; total $1,100. Your effective rate for the 50-hour week is 1,100 ÷ 50 = $22.00/hr, a 10% lift over base.

Reference: overtime premium by rate

Use it for

• Verifying paychecks when overtime looks off.
• Deciding extra shifts: see the real dollar value of saying yes.
• Budgeting lump sums from a heavy work month.

Frequently asked questions

Common mistakes with overtime math

The usual error is multiplying the overtime hours by the base rate instead of the base rate times the multiplier, underpaying by a third. Another is applying 1.5× to the total hours rather than only the hours above the threshold. Some forget that bonuses or shift pay can raise the "regular rate" under FLSA, slightly increasing the OT amount. Others assume every hour over 8 in a day is OT, which is true in some states (like California) but not under federal weekly rules this tool uses.

Scenario: a heavy holiday-season week

A warehouse worker at $19/hour works 40 regular plus 18 overtime hours in December. Regular = $760. Overtime at 1.5× = 19 × 1.5 × 18 = $513. Total $1,273 for the week — a $513 premium that, across a 6-week peak, adds $3,078 gross. That is the difference between "I worked a lot" and knowing the exact dollar value when budgeting or negotiating seasonal shifts.

Taxes, benefits and the number you actually keep

Overtime is ordinary taxable income; there is no penalty rate. However, a large OT week can nudge withholding or marginal brackets. The calculator shows gross; net is lower after the same payroll taxes as regular pay.

Other tools on LeeChuanjing Pay

To log the week that produced the overtime, use the Weekly Time Card. To turn the total into a salary equivalent, see Hourly to Salary, and to model a raise on top of OT try Pay Raise.

Comp time instead of cash

Some public-sector or union roles offer "compensatory time" (paid time off) instead of overtime cash, typically at 1.5 hours off per overtime hour. Private employers generally must pay cash OT under FLSA. Know which applies so you are not shorted on either pay or time off.

Exempt vs non-exempt employees

Overtime law covers "non-exempt" workers. "Exempt" salaried employees (usually meeting salary and duties tests) are not owed OT even for long weeks. Misclassification is common; if you are salaried but do routine hourly-style work, verify your status — the OT you calculate may actually be owed.

Volunteering for overtime strategically

Because OT multiplies your rate, a few targeted overtime shifts can fund a goal faster than equal straight-time hours. At $20/hour, ten OT hours earn $300 versus $200 straight — a $100 premium for the same clock time. Weigh that against fatigue and any mandatory OT rules before loading up, but know the exact dollar lever you are pulling.

Overtime and shift trades

If you can trade a straight-time Saturday for an overtime Sunday, you raise total pay without extra total hours. Use the calculator to compare two weekly scenarios side by side: the traded schedule often wins purely on the OT multiplier, a neat arbitrage many workers overlook.

Staying compliant with overtime law

Overtime rules differ by jurisdiction and role, so treat this tool's 1.5× federal model as a baseline, not gospel. If you are a manager approving OT, verifying the math prevents costly wage-and-hour claims; if you are the worker, it lets you confirm your paycheck. When in doubt, consult your state labor department or a wage specialist rather than trusting a single calculator.