Overtime Calculator
Calculate regular and overtime pay based on hours worked.
Disclaimer: The results provided by this calculator are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Tax laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Please consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
How overtime pay is computed
At its simplest, the overtime calculator splits the week's hours into two buckets — regular and overtime — then multiplies each bucket by the appropriate rate. Under the US Fair Labor Standards Act, any hour beyond 40 in a single workweek is overtime, paid at no less than 1.5 times the regular rate. So 45 hours at $20 per hour yields 40 × $20 plus 5 × $30, for a gross total of $950. If a double-time tier applies, those qualifying hours are peeled off before the overtime calculation so they are paid at exactly 2.0 times the regular rate, not stacked on top of overtime.
Daily overtime, used in California and a handful of other states and union contracts, adds a second comparison. The calculator checks whether any single day exceeded 8 hours and, if so, treats those extra daily hours as overtime even if the weekly total is below 40. When both daily and weekly rules could apply to the same hour, the higher-paying classification is used rather than both at once — an employee cannot be paid overtime twice for the same hour. The tool surfaces each bucket separately so you can see how the total was built rather than just the final number.
When the calculator is useful
Hourly employees use the overtime calculator to sanity-check a paycheck after a heavy week, especially when a shift swap or holiday coverage pushed their hours into premium territory. Managers running a small business use it to forecast labor cost before approving an overtime request: knowing that a four-hour Saturday call-in will cost $120 rather than $80 often changes the staffing decision. Freelancers and consultants occasionally borrow the math even when they are not legally entitled to overtime, simply to price weekend or rush work at a rate that reflects its disruption to their normal schedule.
Two caveats are important. First, the calculator shows gross pay only; federal and state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any benefit deductions will reduce take-home amounts significantly. Second, overtime rules are jurisdiction-specific and can be modified by union agreements, salary-basis exemptions, and local ordinances. California, Colorado, Alaska, and Nevada all have daily overtime rules that differ in the details; some industries like healthcare have alternative workweek schedules that change the 8-hour trigger. Tax and wage rules vary by jurisdiction, so consult a qualified payroll or legal professional for guidance specific to your situation.